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How to Get Into Davidson College

Davidson, NC · Private nonprofit · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data

Davidson College Admissions Statistics

13.4%
Acceptance Rate
695-750
SAT Reading (mid 50%)
705-780
SAT Math (mid 50%)
31-34
ACT (mid 50%)
1,867
Undergrads
91%
Graduation Rate

How to Actually Get Into Davidson College

Understand what 13.4% really means

Below roughly a 15% admit rate, admissions stops being something you earn cleanly and becomes probabilistic. Nearly everyone who applies to Davidson College has strong stats, so strong stats get you into contention, not into the class. Treat Davidson College as a reach no matter your profile, and build real targets and a real safety underneath it. If your list is all schools like this one, your expected outcome is mostly rejections, regardless of how strong you are.

Position your scores against the real bands

The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1400-1530 combined SAT or 31-34 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you, though at this tier they only buy you a ticket. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Since scores are not required (test-optional) here, submit only if you're inside or above the band; a below-band score is information you don't have to volunteer.

Use the Early Decision round deliberately

Davidson College offers Early Decision, which is binding. The early bump is real but overstated (hooked applicants cluster early and inflate it). Spend ED once, on the school where it actually moves you a tier, and only if the money works without comparing aid offers. If that school is Davidson College, the deadline table below is your calendar.

The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where Davidson College fits.

Davidson College Application Deadlines (2025-2026)

Round Deadline
Early Decision (ED) November 15, 2025
Early Decision II (ED II) January 5, 2026
Regular Decision (RD) January 12, 2026

Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.

Application Requirements & Costs

Application platform Common App
Application fee $50
Test scores Not required (test-optional)
Writing supplement Required
Counselor recommendation Required
Teacher evaluations 2

Davidson College Cost & Financial Aid

Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) $79,475
Tuition & fees $64,410
Room & board (on campus) $17,100
Average net price (aid-receiving families) $17,379

What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income

Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:

Family income Average net price / year
$0-30k $9,497
$30-48k $5,354
$48-75k $6,759
$75-110k $18,616
$110k+ $42,346
17.6%
Students receiving Pell Grants
8.7%
Students taking federal loans
95%
Freshman retention rate
8:1
Student-faculty ratio

These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:

Use Davidson College's Official Net Price Calculator →

More Davidson College Data, Coming Soon

We're building the deepest per-school database in admissions. Rolling out for Davidson College:

Programs & Majors Soon Every degree program at Davidson College, with outcomes
Transfer Pathways Soon How to transfer into Davidson College, and where transfers come from
Institutional Aid Soon Davidson College's own grants and how they're awarded
Private Scholarships Soon Outside scholarships Davidson College students actually win

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