Overview of Davidson College

Davidson College is a private liberal arts college located in Davidson, North Carolina. Students can choose from 29 majors and 40 minors, and reap the benefits of a low faculty to student ratio. It has a vibrant student life scene, so admitted students would have lots of clubs and organizations to choose from. Davidson was given a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its accomplishments in the liberal arts and STEM. A strict honor code governs the college.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 1,843 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 52 percent male/48 percent female
• 100 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $53,049
• Books: $1,000
• Room and Board: $14,803
• Other Expenses: $1,775
• Total Cost: $70,627

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 70 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 63 percent
  • Loans: 20 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $39,122
  • Loans: $5,886

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Political Science and Government, General; Economics, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; English Language and Literature, General; and Psychology, General

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 95 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 90 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 90 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
• For a school of well below 2,000 students, Davidson is unusual for its strong Division I athletic program. The Wildcats play in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference, and nearly a quarter of Davidson students participate in varsity athletics.

Overview of Davidson College Admissions

Davidson College has a competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high mean SAT/ACT scores and mean grades. However, Davidson has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, Davidson College had an acceptance rate of 19%.  for every 100 students who submitted applications, 19 students gained admission, making Davidson’s admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

Davidson College wants all applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 60% of admitted students provided SAT scores.

This admissions data shows us that most of Davidson’s admitted students fall within the top 20% on the SAT. 50% of students admitted to Davidson scored between 640 and 720 on the reading and writing section, while 25% scored below 640, and 25% scored over 720. 50% of students scored between 650 and 730 on the math section, while 25% scored below 650, and 25% scored over 730. Students with a cumulative SAT score of 1450 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Davidson College.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Davidson requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 56% of admitted students provided ACT scores.

This admissions data shows that most of Davidson’s admitted students fall within the top 9% on the ACT. The middle 50% of students who gained admission to Davidson received a cumulative ACT score between 29 and 33, while 25% scored over 33, and 25% scored below 29.

GPA

In 2019, the mean high school GPA of Davidson’s freshmen class was 3.93, and 70% had mean GPAs of 3.75 and over. This information suggests that successful applicants to Davidson College have A grades primarily.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Davidson College, then it should be easy for you to gain admission to the schools below. If Davidson College is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Stony Brook University, University of Texas at Dallas, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, University of Cincinnati, Penn State University Park

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Davidson College, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Villanova University, Binghamton University, University of California, Berkeley, Lehigh University, University of Florida, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Austin

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Davidson College. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

Cornell University, Tufts University, Northeastern University, University of Michigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Boston University

Applying to Davidson College

Application Deadline: January 7

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://www.davidson.edu/admission-and-financial-aid

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://www.davidson.edu/admission-and-financial-aid/apply