Smith College vs. Davidson

Deciding between Smith College and Davidson College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Smith College
Davidson College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Smith College Northampton, MA
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Setting
  • Smith College Large Suburban
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Smith College 2,857
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Type
  • Smith College Private 4 Year
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Smith College #68
  • Davidson #32
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Smith College -
  • Davidson Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • Smith College Non-profit
  • Davidson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Smith College
  • Davidson
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Smith College $65,178
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Smith College $65,178
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Room & Board
  • Smith College $22,570
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Smith College $27,305
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Smith College $58,725
  • Davidson $51,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Smith College 67%
  • Davidson 65%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Smith College 8,666
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Admitted
  • Smith College 1,820
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Smith College 21%
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Smith College 35.4%
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Smith College 1480
  • Davidson 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Smith College 33
  • Davidson 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Smith College 4.0
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Smith College A/A+
  • Davidson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Smith College Elite
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Smith College Very High
  • Davidson Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Smith College 32/35
  • Davidson 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Smith College 1420/1540
  • Davidson 1400/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Smith College Test optional
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Smith College Jan 15, 2027
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Smith College 8:1
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Smith College
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Smith College 85%
  • Davidson 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Smith College $48,900
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Smith College 80%
  • Davidson 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Smith College $19,000
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Smith College $196
  • Davidson $175
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Smith College 2%
  • Davidson 47%
  • % Women
  • Smith College 98%
  • Davidson 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Smith College High
  • Davidson Medium
  • HBCU
  • Smith College No
  • Davidson No
  • % White
  • Smith College 45%
  • Davidson 68%
  • % Asian
  • Smith College 12%
  • Davidson 5%
  • % Black
  • Smith College 5%
  • Davidson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Smith College 10%
  • Davidson 8%
  • % Native American
  • Smith College 0%
  • Davidson 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Smith College 0%
  • Davidson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Smith College 5%
  • Davidson 4%
  • % International
  • Smith College 14%
  • Davidson 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Smith College 8%
  • Davidson 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Smith College 12%
  • Davidson 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Smith College 74%
  • Davidson 68%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Smith College Yes
  • Davidson Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Smith College Yes
  • Davidson No
  • Meal Plan
  • Smith College Yes
  • Davidson Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Smith College No
  • Davidson No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Smith College No
  • Davidson No

Comparable Facts

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

Smith College is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (2,857 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Smith College vs. Davidson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Smith College 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 Smith College than Davidson ($27,305 vs. $27,720).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 24.2% lower than at Smith College ($17,100 vs. $22,570).
  • Smith College is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $768 more per year; $65,178.00 vs. $64,410.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at Smith College than at Davidson College (about $768 more per year; $65,178.00 vs. $64,410.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith College than at Davidson College (67% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Smith College students is 13.5% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($58,725 vs. $51,755).

Smith College vs. Davidson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Smith College 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 Smith College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Smith College (1480) is 10 points higher than at Davidson (1470).
  • Incoming Smith College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Davidson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Smith College 1420/1540; Davidson College 1400/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Smith College 32/35; Davidson College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Smith College - Test optional; Davidson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Smith College Jan 15, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Smith College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Davidson (3.81).
  • Smith College has a higher acceptance rate (21%) than Davidson (13.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.4% at Smith College vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Smith College vs. Davidson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Smith College 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).

  • Davidson College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Smith College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Davidson College earn a median of about $14,600 more per year than Smith College graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,500 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Smith College graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Smith College graduates ($175 vs. $196).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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.