About

About Davidson College

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Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, NC, known for its liberal arts college, small class sizes, and honor code tradition. With an acceptance rate of 17%, DC is highly selective, typically enrolling around 542 students each year. DC is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1410–1500, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. DC meets 100% of demonstrated financial need and has replaced loans with grants.

Admissions

Davidson College acceptance rate and admitted student profile

highly selective

17%
Overall Accept Rate
1455
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1410 – 1500 (test optional)

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ACTScore range: 32 – 34

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Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to Davidson College

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
Davidson's Honor Code is central to campus life, so if any of your essays touch on integrity, academic honesty, or community trust, connect those values explicitly to the culture Davidson students and faculty actively uphold together. Admissions readers are looking for students who will genuinely thrive in a self-governed academic environment.
Essay Strategy
In your Why Davidson essay, go beyond general liberal arts praise and name specific professors whose research interests you, courses in the catalog that connect to your intellectual curiosity, and programs like the Davidson Research Initiative or Centers for Interdisciplinary Studies that match your goals. Vague enthusiasm will not stand out at a school this selective.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What Davidson College actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Loan-free financial aid: Davidson College has replaced all loans with grants. Davidson College's sticker price of ~$73k/year bears almost no resemblance to what most families pay.
Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$73k/yr$9.5k
30k-48k~$73k/yr$5.4k
48k-75k~$73k/yr$6.8k
75k-110k~$73k/yr$18.6k
110k+~$73k/yr$42.3k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

92%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$63k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
9:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
2,089
Undergrad Enrollment
Davidson College Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch