Amherst vs. Davidson

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Davidson College in Davidson, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Amherst College is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Davidson College is in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Davidson College 8:1.

Amherst vs. Davidson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Davidson? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Davidson ($19,049 vs. $27,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 7% lower than at Amherst College ($17,100 vs. $18,390).
• Amherst College is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $6,070 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Amherst than at Davidson College (about $6,070 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Amherst College (65% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 32.5% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($68,591 vs. $51,755).

Amherst vs. Davidson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Davidson? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Davidson and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 70 points higher than at Davidson (1470).
• Incoming Amherst students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Davidson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Davidson College 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Davidson College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Davidson - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• Davidson has a higher acceptance rate (13.4%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Amherst vs. Davidson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Davidson? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Davidson College's (92%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $18,500 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $4,025 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($12,975 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($134 vs. $175).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.