Davidson vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
• Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

Davidson vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Davidson ($10,154 vs. $27,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 19.3% lower than at Davidson College ($13,804 vs. $17,100).
• Davidson College is 616.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $55,416 more per year; $64,410.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 56.3% higher at Davidson than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $23,207 more per year; $64,410.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (65% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 190.5% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($51,755 vs. $17,814).

Davidson vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Davidson or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 UNC Chapel Hill and Davidson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Davidson College (1470) is 10 points higher than at UNC Chapel Hill (1460).
• Incoming Davidson students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UNC Chapel Hill).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 1400/1530; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 31/34; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• UNC Chapel Hill has a higher acceptance rate (15.3%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

Davidson vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson and UNC Chapel Hill? 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's (89%).
• Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $521 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($16,479 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($170 vs. $175).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

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.