Wellesley vs. Davidson

Comparable Facts

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

Wellesley College is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (2,407 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Davidson College is in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting).
• Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; Davidson College 8:1.

Wellesley vs. Davidson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than Davidson ($22,174 vs. $27,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 18.7% lower than at Wellesley College ($17,100 vs. $21,024).
• Wellesley College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $2,766 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Wellesley than at Davidson College (about $2,766 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Wellesley College (65% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 23.9% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($64,116 vs. $51,755).

Wellesley vs. Davidson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 40 points higher than at Davidson (1470).
• Incoming Wellesley students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Davidson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Davidson College 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Davidson College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Davidson - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (14%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Wellesley vs. Davidson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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).

• The graduation rate at Wellesley is the same as at Davidson College (92% vs. 92%).
• Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $8,100 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($8,900 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($92 vs. $175).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)

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.