Liberal arts college
#15 Best colleges for communications and journalism in AmericaDavidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid About $17,000 a year
Median debt at graduation: $18,688 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for education in America#13 of 1,318
- Best small colleges in America#9 of 906
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#15 of 1,238
- Best colleges in America#29 of 1,829
- Best test-optional colleges in America#25 of 1,481
- Best colleges for psychology in America#24 of 1,418
Show 25 more
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#25 of 1,358
- Best colleges for art and design in America#23 of 1,187
- Best colleges for English in America#28 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#28 of 1,247
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#28 of 1,215
- Best colleges for music in America#25 of 1,063
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#28 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#28 of 1,116
- Best colleges for computer science in America#22 of 750
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#22 of 690
- Best colleges for economics in America#28 of 788
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#71 of 1,829
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#15 of 367
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#36 of 682
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in America#12 of 197
- Most selective colleges in America#48 of 683
- Best value colleges in America#48 of 674
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#52 of 681
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#49 of 598
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in America#58 of 704
- Best value colleges in the South in America#15 of 153
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#88 of 693
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#112 of 690
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#130 of 704
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in America#131 of 684
In North Carolina
- Best small colleges in North Carolina#1 of 34
- Best colleges in North Carolina#2 of 55
- Best test-optional colleges in North Carolina#2 of 54
- Best colleges for psychology in North Carolina#2 of 51
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in North Carolina#2 of 50
- Best colleges for education in North Carolina#2 of 47
Show 23 more
- Best colleges for English in North Carolina#2 of 47
- Best colleges for history in North Carolina#2 of 45
- Best colleges for mathematics in North Carolina#2 of 45
- Best colleges for music in North Carolina#2 of 44
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in North Carolina#2 of 42
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in North Carolina#2 of 42
- Best colleges for chemistry in North Carolina#2 of 41
- Best colleges for art and design in North Carolina#2 of 39
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in North Carolina#1 of 17
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in North Carolina#4 of 55
- Best colleges for economics in North Carolina#2 of 25
- Best colleges for computer science in North Carolina#2 of 24
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in North Carolina#2 of 19
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in North Carolina#1 of 9
- Most selective colleges in North Carolina#2 of 18
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in North Carolina#2 of 17
- Best value colleges in North Carolina#2 of 16
- Best value colleges in the South in North Carolina#2 of 16
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in North Carolina#2 of 16
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in North Carolina#2 of 15
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in North Carolina#4 of 18
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in North Carolina#5 of 18
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in North Carolina#5 of 17
Academic Excellence
A+Academic Excellence: A+ (grade A+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data.
Exceptional · Top 3%
From federal data, on fixed published scales.
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.91%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.95%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,469 · ACT 32.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.8 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$22,692
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average paid by families who received aid, by income. Families who get no aid pay the full cost of attendance: $79,475 a year.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 1,904 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 47% · Women 53% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 16% |
| Total students | 1,904 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | About $17,000 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $79,475 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $18,688 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 91% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 84% |
| First-year retention | 95% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $81,400 |
| Admission rate | 13% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $50 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,538 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 18% |
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1400–1530ACT 31–34Reach. They admit fewer than 1 in 5 applicants, so it’s a reach for everyone.Reach. Your score is below their middle range.Target. Your score is in their middle range.Target. Your score is above their middle range, and they’re selective.Likely. Your score is above their middle range.Likely. Your score is in their middle range, and they admit most applicants.
| Average SAT | 1469 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 695–750 |
| SAT math | 705–780 |
| ACT composite | 31–34 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Exceptional · Top 5% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Social sciences | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology | |
| Physical sciences | |
| Computer and information sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 0% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 0% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $17,100 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Atlantic 10 Conference |
| ROTC | Army |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 8 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 17%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 96%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $694,442IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 94% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (JQF)About 11 miles away |
| Nearest major airport | Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)About 21 miles away |
| Town population | 15,660Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | CharlotteAbout 20 miles away |
| Typical weather | 41°F in January · 80°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Concord, NC, about 16 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Questions families ask
- What is Davidson College’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A+). It ranks in the top 2% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Davidson College cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is about $17,000 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Davidson College?
- Davidson College admitted 13% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Davidson College’s graduates do?
- 91% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $81,400; the median federal debt at graduation is $18,688.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 198385
- Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate college (arts & sciences)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Report an error or a newer source
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IASimilarly selectiveCompass ScoreExceptional · Top 3%Colby CollegeWaterville, MESimilarly selectiveCompass ScoreExceptional · Top 3%Bates CollegeLewiston, MESimilarly selectiveCompass ScoreExceptional · Top 2%Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VASimilarly selective
Compare side by side: Davidson vs Grinnell · Davidson vs Colby · Davidson vs Bates · Davidson vs Washington and Lee
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