Davidson College

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Davidson, NC
4.0 1 review

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

1,869

Location Davidson, North Carolina
Website davidson.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Large Suburban
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA)

Best Colleges Rank

#32

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad

Davidson College sits in the town of Davidson, North Carolina, approximately 20 miles north of Charlotte. Founded in 1837 by Presbyterians, this private liberal arts institution maintains its historic red-brick colonial architecture across its 665-acre suburban campus, which includes Lake Norman on its perimeter. The college operates under a strict honor code and is known for its rigorous academic standards, high selectivity in admissions, and commitment to need-blind financial aid through the Davidson Trust. While offering comprehensive liberal arts programs, Davidson has particular strength in economics, political science, and pre-medical studies, with all students required to complete an advanced research project or thesis. Students must live on campus for all four years, residing in traditional residence halls or apartment-style housing, and the college competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Davidson Wildcats, most notably in men's basketball.

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Ratings

Davidson is rated within the top 7% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for Davidson College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

Best Colleges in the U.S.

#32
Best Private Colleges in the U.S.

#32
Best Colleges in North Carolina

#2
Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

#2
Best Value Colleges in the U.S.

#42
Best Value Colleges in North Carolina

#4

Learn how rankings are calculated

Admissions

Admission Standards

Elite

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1400/1530
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 31/34
GPA 3.81

Acceptance Rate

13.4%

Applications Due Jan 7, 2027
Enrollment Rate 47.9%
Application Fee $50

Applicant Competition Very High

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$64,410

Costs for Davidson College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$64,410
Books and Supplies		$825
Other Fees		$830
Room and Board		$17,100
Budget for Other Expenses		$1,925
Total One Year Cost		$85,090

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$63,500 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

92% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Davidson College are Social Sciences, Biology, and Psychology. 28% of students major in Social Sciences, 11% in Biology, and 11% in Psychology.