Davidson vs. Reed

Comparable Facts

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

Davidson College is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (1,869 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Reed College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Reed College 9:1.

Davidson vs. Reed Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson or Reed? 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 Davidson College than Reed ($27,720 vs. $30,953).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 3.2% lower than at Reed College ($17,100 vs. $17,660).
• Reed College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $4,940 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Reed than at Davidson College (about $4,940 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Reed College (65% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 7.1% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($55,445 vs. $51,755).

Davidson vs. Reed Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Davidson or Reed? 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 Reed and Davidson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Davidson College (1470) is 60 points higher than at Reed (1410).
• Incoming Davidson students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Reed (32).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 1400/1530; Reed College 1290/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 31/34; Reed College 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; Reed - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• Reed has a higher acceptance rate (24.6%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 13.1% at Reed.

Davidson vs. Reed Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson and Reed? 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).

• Davidson College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Reed College's (80%).
• Graduates from Davidson College earn a median of about $16,300 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,500 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($16,000 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($165 vs. $175).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Reed students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.