Davidson vs. Duke

Comparable Facts

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

Duke University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Duke University is in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Duke University 5:1.

Davidson vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson or Duke? 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 Duke University than Davidson ($21,981 vs. $27,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 5.7% lower than at Duke University ($17,100 vs. $18,128).
• Duke University is 6.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $4,348 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Duke than at Davidson College (about $4,348 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Duke University (65% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 26.6% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($65,522 vs. $51,755).

Davidson vs. Duke Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Davidson or Duke? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Duke and Davidson.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 70 points higher than at Davidson (1470).
• Incoming Duke students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Davidson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Davidson College 1400/1530; Duke University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Davidson College 31/34; Duke University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; Duke - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Duke students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• Davidson has a higher acceptance rate (13.4%) than Duke (5.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 58.8% at Duke.

Davidson vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson and Duke? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Duke University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Davidson College's (92%).
• Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $45,400 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($7,500 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($77 vs. $175).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duke students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 89%)

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.