Davidson vs. Whitman College

Comparable Facts

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

Davidson College is larger than Whitman College based on total student enrollment (1,869 students vs. 1,561 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Whitman College is in Walla Walla, WA (Remote Town setting).
• Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Whitman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Whitman College 10:1.

Davidson vs. Whitman College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson or Whitman College? 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 Whitman College ($27,720 vs. $37,633).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whitman College are 11.8% lower than at Davidson College ($15,080 vs. $17,100).
• Davidson College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whitman College (about $360 more per year; $64,410.00 vs. $64,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Davidson than at Whitman College (about $360 more per year; $64,410.00 vs. $64,050.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Whitman College than at Davidson College (94% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 27.8% larger than aid received by Whitman College students ($51,755 vs. $40,489).

Davidson vs. Whitman College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Davidson College (1470) is 70 points higher than at Whitman College (1400).
• Incoming Davidson students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Whitman College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 1400/1530; Whitman College 1310/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 31/34; Whitman College 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; Whitman College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Whitman College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Davidson students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Whitman College (3.68).
• Whitman College has a higher acceptance rate (38.1%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 14.1% at Whitman College.

Davidson vs. Whitman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson and Whitman College? 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 Whitman College's (86%).
• Graduates from Davidson College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Whitman College graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,500 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Whitman College graduates ($17,000 vs. $17,500).
• Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whitman College graduates ($175 vs. $180).
• More Whitman College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Davidson students, three years after graduation. (93% 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.