About Davidson College

Founded in 1837, Davidson College. is a Private college. Located in North Carolina, which is a city setting in North Carolina, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 1,796 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The Davidson College Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 10:1. There are 185 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Davidson College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate20%
Application Deadline15-Nov
Application Fee50
SAT Range1250-1440
ACT Range28-33

Admissions at are considered Most Selective, with ,23% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 9 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

100% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 97% were in the top quarter, and 79% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Davidson College.

2%
“We”re apathetic”
30%
“We know about current events and vote”
63%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
5%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
10%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
46%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
7%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
93%
“I feel extremely safe”
10%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
63%
“We bought the gear”
27%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
34%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
53%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
10%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
20%
“They keep regular office hours”
78%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
27%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
68%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
3%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
5%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
80%
“We only party on weekends”
15%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
25%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
62%
“There might be people who do”
13%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
2%
“We”re apathetic”
30%
“We know about current events and vote”
63%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
5%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
10%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
46%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
7%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
93%
“I feel extremely safe”
10%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
63%
“We bought the gear”
27%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
34%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
53%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
10%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
20%
“They keep regular office hours”
78%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
27%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
68%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
3%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
5%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
80%
“We only party on weekends”
15%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
25%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
62%
“There might be people who do”
13%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    51 Students rated on-campus housing 4.2 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    34 Students rated off-campus housing 3.1 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    52 Students rated campus food 3.7 stars. 27 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    52 Students rated campus facilities 4.5 stars. 65 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    52 Students rated class size 4.5 stars. 71 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    52 Students rated school activities 4.2 stars. 44 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    52 Students rated local services 4.3 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    53 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 53 % gave the school a 5.0.

Davidson College REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of Davidson College?

7 Students rated Davidson College

Gloria - 04/27/2022

Davidson college has many flaws that stem from it's original ties to sexism and slavery which have not yet been really addressed or remedied. This article is a pretty good overview of the campus if you are interested in attending. https://howwetreateachother.wordpress.com/2022/04/27/davidson-college/

Carlina - 11/20/2020

Almost all of my professors were absolutely wonderful. Since it's a small school, they are super available in their office hours, and since class sizes range from 6-30, it's not that hard to get in to see a professor for support. Professors are excellent at connecting students with opportunities for research grants or even to present at conferences. They are a good source of moral support and really invest in students! They also pushed me to think critically and adopt new frameworks to understand the world, whether that was looking at racial capitalism and neoliberalism, learning from the fat liberation movement, or adopting a disability studies lens. The student body's commitment to social justice and radical change is incredible and inspiring, but the administration thinks that hosting panels and speakers and holding meetings around the flagpole to respond to tragic or racist events is enough. It's not enough. Luckily student organizers constantly push Davidson to go further with initiatives to rename Chambers, the main academic building named for someone heavily involved in the slave trade, or to start an Asian American Studies Department and a Jewish Studies Department, and to make reparations. Students have launched mutual aid efforts, social entrepreneurship projects, and change-oriented artist collectives. Inequality in terms of resources is clear. The historically Black sororities and fraternities do not have houses on Patterson Court, whereas the predominately white frats and eating houses do. The budget of the Africana Studies department is tiny in comparison to that of Political Science, History or English. Due to student activism, there has been some positive change, for example, the opening of Lula Bell's food pantry and student resource center. The party scene is ok, and there are lots of social events for non-drinkers as well. There are so many student activities, especially for a small school, and students are very involved. The school hosts lots of artists, performers and speakers, and the entertainment scene is surprisingly good for a school of 2,000. Davidson is about forty minutes from the city of Charlotte, however, the only public transportation between the two available currently is buses, so students mostly go downtown if they have cars or if their friends do. Davidson isn't a commuter campus and so there is a lot of activity on the weekends. Davidson encourages its students to volunteer, and many get involved in tutoring, at the community garden, or at the free medical clinic. Counseling is free and available to all students, but there are relatively few counselors in light of the demand, and so sometimes one has to wait two or three weeks to get an appointment. Pre-COIVD, they were combatting this by having walk-in office hours. Most of the counselors are white. Mental health is a serious issue for Davidson students, probably because there is so much academic stress and pressure. Professors push students hard, and Davidson tends to attract the kind of students who care a lot about grades. I know at least three students who, during my time there, faced suicidal ideation. The career services center is great. They offer a lot of summer internship grants, job shadowing and mentoring opportunities, and lots of help applying for positions, whether that is through resume review, mock interviews or coffee chats. I strongly encourage students to take advantage of it early on. Don't wait until you're a senior to start planning for your career! The Chaplain's office is wonderful. Rob Spach is a gift to humanity and infuses the campus with so much love and light. So many of the staff who are in non-academic roles are incredible people and during my time there, I built relationships with everyone from cafeteria workers to librarians to office administrators. The humans who work and study at Davidson are the school's most valuable asset, and they are what makes attending worthwhile.

Chloe - 01/25/2019

Davidson is very challenging, but equally rewarding. Professors are wonderful and truly invested in helping their students succeed. The undergrad research opportunities that are available are unique to Davidson and prepare students for life after college (grad school/med school/workforce). I love the atmosphere and feeling of the campus and student body, but the academics are a bit cutthroat.

Hannah - 02/13/2018

I love Davidson with all of my being. There's a statistic that some 60% of students end up marrying fellow Davidsonians- this makes sense, as we all talk about the school so much that no one else would want to marry us! The academics are top notch and the academic opportunities provided in and out of the classroom are not to be beat. The professors are ready to offer classwork and career advice, and most are also truly invested in the private lives and emotional well-being of their students. Everyone is involved in a handful of things on campus- we're all busy, but we also all knew what we were getting into. Campus organizations are really inclusive and woke on issues of social justice. If you have drive and a passion for learning, Davidson is a great fit for you!

Davidson College FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Davidson College?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Davidson College is 20%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Some stereotypes are that Davidson is an exceptionally academically challenging institution, and all students here are very hard-working and overly concerned with grades. There also might be the stereotype among certain groups of people that Davidson is a very conservative, preppy, southern school.

    Read all 206 answers

  3. Describe the students at your school.

    The leaders of tomorrow, agents of change, and really remarkable individuals.

    Read all 202 answers

  4. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    Even though Davidson students have a lot of work to complete, they still take time out of their busy schedules to do fun things. For example, students might attend a lecture, go to one of the Live Thursdays concerts, go to a Davidson basketball game, or party at one of the eating houses or fraternities on the weekend. The other stereotypes are accurate

    Read all 202 answers

  5. What are the academics like at your school?

    Professors are really accessable, and they know the names of their students. Students study a lot, but they still take time out to have some fun. Davidson's liberal arts curriculum and academic requirements enable students to explore many different areas. By having academic requirements, students might discover something that they want to major in that they were not originally considering.

    Read all 202 answers

  6. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    The best thing about Davidson is the sense of community. Davidson students have a great relationship with the town. For example, many people from the town come cheer on the Davidson basketball team or come watch a concert or theater performance. I will always remember how the Davidson community gathered together to support the Davidson men's basketball team during their incredible run in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

    Read all 199 answers

  7. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Probably eating houses (which are for women) and fraternities. There is also the awesome Davidson Outdoors Program, which speaks to the typical nature loving person that goes here. Club sports are super fun, and many people enjoy whatever the student activities board prepares for us, because they plan activities based off of student interest.

    Read all 192 answers

  8. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Friendly, personal, and caring professors

    Read all 112 answers

  9. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    First and foremost I would say consider the size and location of the school you are interested in. Some students do better at large urban universities, while others thrive at smaller small town colleges. While it may be hard to do, focus on the academics first and foremost when looking at what you want to get out of the school; does it offer a choice of degrees that you would be interested in or programs that you would like to try? Then I would recommend looking at the academic rigor as well as the extracurricular options that the school offers, because as Mark Twain beautifully penned, "I never let my schooling interfear with my education." While there is plenty to be learned in class, college will teach you many important life skills through the people you meet and activities you undertake that have no relation to your academics. I would also recommend considering living conditions of the campus, whether you would prefer a school where the entire student body lives on campus, vs. one where most upperclassmen live off campus. Finally, there is the feel. Visit as many schools as you can, and see which one feels best for you.

    Read all 53 answers

  10. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The worst thing about Davidson is probably the emphasis on alcohol -- it's tough to hang out on the weekends without feeling the need to drink large amounts of cheap, water-y beer. The social life is kind of what you make of it; if you create your own fun, the social life is great. If you're hoping to rely on school-sponsored/local events, the social life is noticeably lacking.

    Read all 13 answers

  11. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Conservative, academic-oriented, and community-service-oriented individuals looking for a career in medicine or banking. Many who are not sure of their future career goals are also well accepted. Individuals must also be tolerant, accepting, and honorable to do well here.

    Read all 13 answers

  12. Tell us about the sports scene on campus.

    21 D1 sports here. Basketball is like our trademark sport, if you're not a fan you'll become one. No athlete dorms so we're all together, athletes here aren't as much of an exclusive group here though 26 percent of us are athletes

    Read all 12 answers

  13. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Davidson is ass-kicking in every sense of the term--your classes will kick your ass, you will kick your own ass, your friends will be kick-ass, the basketball team kicks ass, the professors kick ass, the amount of hard liquor you drink will leave your ass kicked, and you will be able to kick anybody's ass once you've graduated.

    Read all 11 answers

  14. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Stresses easily

    Read all 11 answers

  15. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I had had a better idea of what I wanted to major in or what career path I wanted to follow so that I could have taken classes that were more interesting to me in that area.

    Read all 10 answers

  16. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Small class size, great enthusiastic professors, all the time you can spend with your professors, great academic advising, great rates of getting into the graduate school or medical school of your choice, easy to get to class in five minutes, good campus and off-campus food

    Read all 8 answers

  17. What's unique about your campus?

    The People - they are friendly, intelligent, and believe in mutual growth at a place of learning instead of petty competition over grades.

    Read all 7 answers

  18. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Davidson College is best known for its challenging academics and close-knit community.

    Read all 5 answers

  19. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    Davidson has a diversity of students, faculty, and staff. There are people from all races, religions, and beliefs on campus. While the school has a reputation of being predominately white and southern in its student body, the school is taking an active approach in incorporating students from around the nation, and the world. That reputation is not the case now and the stereotype will disappear in the next 5-10 years. In terms of personality type, almost all students share the same motto of "work hard, play hard." Every single student at Davidson is intelligent and wants to do well, not just in school, but life. That being said, students also like to have fun.

    Read all 5 answers

  20. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The most frustrating thing is not being able to do everything. Since the school is so academically challenging, students are forced to make choices in the activites they can participate in.

    Read all 4 answers

  21. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    I'll be honest. I visited Davidson, and I hated it. Everyone was a rich white kid and while I liked my host student, many of the prospective students I was with weren't my favorite. Despite this, I loved the classes I had sat in on, loved the campus, loved the location, and I loved the graduates I met. Every single graduate of Davidson I knew was a successful, kind, and model individual. If they went to Davidson and came out the way they did, the place couldn't be all bad. With that idea in mind, I put Davidson at the top of my list. Luckily, I quickly learned that my stereotype of Davidson's students was quite off and now many of my closest friends are fellow students. And the obnoxious prospective students? Davidson wasn't for them.

    Read all 3 answers

Student Body

Students

49%

female

51%

male

1,796

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

73%

Out-Of-State

19%

In-State

8%

International

Organizations

200

Student Organizations

8

Fraternities

6

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

92%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
1%
% Asian/Pacific Islander
5%
% Black or African-American
7%
% Hispanic/Latino
7%
% White or Caucasian
67%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

70% of students attending Davidson College receive some sort of financial aid. 14% were awarded federal grants. While 23% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$48,376

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,000

Books and Supplies

$13,547

Room and Board

62,923

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$8,163
$30 - $48K
$9,010
$48 - $75K
$11,982
$75 - $110K
$20,977
$110K & UP
$39,244

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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