Davidson College is a private college located in Davidson, North Carolina. The college was set up in 1837 by Presbyterians. The undergraduate enrollment at Davidson's is 1,839 and it has around 7% international students. The college has students from around 47 countries of the world. Davidson is ranked as one of the strongest and most selective liberal arts colleges in US with an acceptance rate of less than 20%. The college has a retention rate of 95% which is clearly an indicator of student satisfaction.
The college only offers bachelor’s degree programs to students. It offers 74 majors, minors and interdisciplinary programs. Some of the top disciplines include Africana Studies, Economics, Biology, English, Psychology, etc. Davidson also has 21 NCAA Division I sports teams. The institution takes pride in its alma mater and has produced 23 Rhodes Scholars till date. It has ranked at the 15th position in national liberal arts colleges in the U.S. News and World Report 2023.
Every year, over 800 international student applications from students in more than 75 countries are received for admission at Davidson College. Therefore, 8% of the total student population represents international students from 50 countries.
Davidson College Rankings
Davidson is a popular college in the US. The latest rankings of Davidson College are given below:
U.S. News and World Report 2023
- #15 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
- #9 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
- #11 in Best Value Schools
- #6 in Most Innovative Schools
- #173 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #16 in Undergraduate Research/ Creative Projects
- #13 in First-Year Experiences
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
- =59th in U.S. College Rankings 2023
Niche 2023 Best Colleges
The table given below shows ranking of Davidson College on various parameters in the U.S., North Caroline and Charlotte region:
| Parameter | Ranking in America | Ranking in North Carolina | Ranking in Charlotte region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Colleges | #47 in 1,619 | #3 out of 50 | #1 out of 8 |
| Best Christian Colleges | #3 out of 362 | #2 out of 23 | - |
| Best Small Colleges | #17 out of 978 | #1 out of 31 | - |
| Best Liberal Arts Colleges | #17 out of 209 | #1 out of 8 | - |
| Best Value Colleges | #48 out of 1,572 | #2 out of 50 | #1 out of 8 |
Highlights
| University Type | Private |
| Establishment Year | 1837 |
| Location | Davidson, North Carolina |
| Campus Setting | Suburban |
| Average Class Size | 16 |
| Student to faculty ratio | 9:1 |
| Annual Endowment | 919.6 million USD (as of December 31, 2022) |
| Total Enrollment | 1,843 enrolled, 51% male 48% female |
| International students | 8% |
| Housing capacity | 95% |
| Financial Aid | Scholarships |
Davidson College Campus
- Davidson College has a 665-acre main campus and 110-acre lake campus.
- The campus of the college is located 19 miles north of Charlotte in Davidson, North Carolina.
- More than 200 clubs and organizations are run by students in college. Students can join clubs according to their area of interest, which may include academics, arts, civic engagement, culture, health, sports, media, geek life, performance groups, politics, religions, etc.
- Various programs organized on-campus include community fairs, Wildcat welcome week, workshops, and training.
- Davidson Outdoors offers students, faculty, and staff a variety of outdoor activities and courses throughout the year. There are trips organized which include kayaking and canoeing, backpacking, rock and mountain climbing.
- The Leadership Fellows Program is the Center's signature program that hosts leadership series, conferences, and special workshops for students to be exposed to leadership education and development.
Davidson College Residence
- There are 12 types of residence halls, 7 apartments and a co-op style house that provides on-campus accommodation to students.
- 95% of the students live on-campus.
- First-year students are mostly assigned Belk Hall, Little Hall, Watts Hall and Richardson Hall.
- Students of the first-year are also given the option to change the assigned accommodation after the fall semester.
- Students returning after spring select their room and roommate(s) by using the housing lottery.
- The benefits of residential living are increased academic success, higher graduation rates, stronger interpersonal skills, and diverse ideas and cultures.
- All residence halls are equipped with central air conditioning and heating, cable TV, wireless internet connection, secured, card-access entry, bicycle storage, laundry facility, etc.
- Each room has long twin beds, dressers, desks and chairs, closets, wardrobe.
Davidson College Courses
- Davidson offers 29 majors, 40 minors, and 14 interdisciplinary programs that provide broad exposure to diverse thought and in-depth exploration.
- A few of the majors include Africana Studies, Anthropology, Applied Mathematics, Arab Studies, Art, Biology, Computer Science, Dance, etc.
- Students have the choice of creating their own major through the Center for Disciplinary Studies.
- More than 850 courses are offered by the college each year.
- The College also offers 5 pre-professional programs including those in pre-medicine and pre-law.
- 72% of the students participated in internships and research.
- The college sponsors 10 programs worldwide at 79 approved locations and nearly 73% of students graduate with abroad experience.
Davidson College Application Process
Davidson College offers 2 rounds of early decision and a regular decision deadline for applicants. Admission decisions are released within 3-4 weeks from the application deadlines.
How to Apply?
The process and requirements for admission to Davidson College have been discussed below:
Application Portal: Common Application/ Coalition Application/ Davidson Online Application/ Paper Application
Application Fee: No application fee
Application Deadline: The deadlines for submission of application are as follows:
| Decision Type | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early decision I | December 15 |
| Early decision II | January 4 |
| Regular decision | January 11 |
Admission Requirements: The following documents are required to be submitted with the application for admission:
- Early decision agreement (only required for students applying for early decision)
- Common Application Writing Supplement (online)
- Reports from secondary school
- Mid-year school report
- 2 recommendations from academic teachers (preferably a teacher of English, math, science, social studies or foreign language)
- ACT or SAT scores (optional)
- CSS profile for financial aid
- Certificate of Finances
- Proof of English language proficiency
English Language Requirements
International students are to submit English language proficiency test scores. Students can take the DET, IELTS, or TOEFL tests. These results are required to be sent either from the testing agency or your high school counselor. The university will not accept scores submitted directly from students or reported by themselves. The minimum requirements of these test scores are:
| Test | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0 |
| TOEFL – IBT | 100 |
| TOEFL - PBT | 600 |
| DET | 120 |
Davidson College Cost of Attendance
All international students are advised to prepare an estimate of the cost of attendance for studying in the U.S. A summary of expenses for students planning to attend Davidson College in 2023-24 is given below:
| Expense Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student Charges (Tuition, Student Activity Fee) | 55,000 USD |
| Accommodation Expenses (for standard double room) | 7,700 USD |
| Meals (21 per week) (other plans also available) | 7,525 USD |
| Total | 70,225 USD |
The housing rates may vary depending on the room type. The yearly cost for each room type has been tabulated below for reference:
| Housing Type | Cost for the Academic year 2023-24 |
|---|---|
| Double | 7,700 USD |
| Single/Suite | 9,284 USD |
| Martin Court Apartment | 9,626 USD |
| Triple | 5,420 USD |
| Overflow | Varies |
Davidson College Scholarships/Financial Aid
- Financial aid is limited and competitive in nature at Davidson College. Only 10% of the entering class receives merit scholarships.
- Over 50% of the students receive need-based aid and the college tries to meet 100% need of students in the form of grants and student employment.
- International students requiring financial assistance must apply at the time of applying for admission, within the given deadlines.
- The amount awarded through merit scholarships ranges from 500 USD to the full cost of attendance.
- Nomination scholarship is awarded to rank holders. To avail of this scholarship, a student must receive a nomination from the head of the school or college counselor. This scholarship covers the entire cost of attendance for students. The head or counselor can nominate up to 2 candidates for the Belk Scholarship, 3 candidates for Bryan, or Charles Scholarship.
- Application scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate interest in a particular subject area. These scholarships are renewable if students fulfill scholarship requirements, maintain GPA and make progress towards their degree.
Davidson College Alumni Network
- Davidson connects over 25,000 alumni & families through a variety of formal & informal programs.
- Every June, alumni celebrate five-year reunions on the Reunion Weekend and attend affinity reunions centered on Davidson's particular interests and activities. Alumni, families, and friends are welcomed for each fall for Wildcat Weekend.
- Other benefits of the membership include:
- Invitation to cultural events specially for members
- Ticket priority for events conducted at the College
- Subscription to monthly e-news “Friends of the Arts”
- Volunteering opportunities
- Career services
- Notable Alumni Include:
- Roxanne Beckford - Actress
- Peyton Aldridge - Basketball player
- James Batten - CEO of Knight Riders
Davidson College Placements
Davidson College does the maximum recruiting process through its online platform. Engaging with students over coffee conversation is an informal way to start the basic interaction offered through Davidson. For formal meetings, organizations can be given the option to conduct on-campus information sessions, virtual sessions, webinars, skill-building workshops, etc. Also, there are on-campus interviews, career fairs, etc. organized by the college to help students find suitable jobs in the U.S. where students directly meet the recruiters.
93% of the graduates of the class of 2022 were employed within 6 months from graduation. The college has a 4-year graduation rate of 91%. Top employer industries of the college’s graduates include education, library, archives, healthcare, financial services, insurance, technology, engineering, math, civic, social, or community service and government, policy, law.
The key employers at Davidson have been Massachusetts General Hospital, National Institutes of Health, Peace Corps, Bank of America, Microsoft, Federal Reserve Bank, Deloitte, Teach for America, McKinsey and Company, Amazon, Accenture and many more. The median starting salary of graduates of the college is 52,300 USD.
Some of the notable colleges where graduates enroll for further studies include Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, etc.
FAQs
Ques. What is the acceptance rate at Davidson College?
Ans. The acceptance rate at Davidson was only 20% for enrollment in fall 2024.
Ques. Is it hard to get into Davidson College?
Ans. The acceptance rate at Davidson College is quite low which means that getting into Davidson is quite difficult.
Ques. What is the graduation rate at Davidson?
Ans. The graduation rate at Davidson College is 91%.
Ques. Does Davidson College conduct interviews?
Ans. No. Davidson College does not conduct interviews as a part of the application process.
Ques. Do you need to submit SAT/ACT Scores?
Ans. Davidson College has adopted a test-optional policy beginning in Fall 2023. Applicants are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission.
Ques. What is the average GPA at Davidson?
Ans. With a GPA of 3.93, Davidson College requires you to be at the top of your class.
Ques. Is there any advantage of applying early?
Ans. Yes. Applicants who apply early have higher chances of being admitted under the early decision plan than the regular decision.
Ques. What is the tuition for Davidson College?
Ans. The tuition fee for students attending Davidson in 2023-24 is 55,000 USD.
Ques. What does the residence life at Davidson look like?
Ans. 95% of students live on campus. First-year students are required to live on campus. The college has 19 residence halls that comprise traditional dorms, suite-style accommodation and single rooms.
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Davidson College Scholarships
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS Leadership Scholarship | Scholarship per student₹ 8.3 L/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship | Scholarship per student₹ 82,890/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| KC Mahindra Scholarship | Scholarship per student₹ 4.6 L/Yr$5,542 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| ASID Foundation Legacy Scholarships | Scholarship per student₹ 3.3 L/Yr$4,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Microsoft Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
Davidson College Admissions
Application Portal: https://www.davidson.edu/admission-and-financial-aid/how-to-apply
Early Action Deadlines
Important Date: November1 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: January15 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)
Davidson College Exam Scores
| Exams | Avg. Score | Min Score | Max. Score | %Submitted' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | ||||
| SAT | 1390 | 1310 | 1470 | 53 |
| Check Detailed Score | ||||
| Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 700 | 660 | 740 | - |
| Mathematics | 690 | 650 | 730 | - |
| ACT | 32 | 30 | 33 | 66 |
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
Davidson College Accreditations
Faculty
| Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2740 | 2583 | 157 | - |
Davidson College Campus Location
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