Davidson College

Davidson's 2,000 students create a tight-knit community where 96% live on campus all four years. Social life orbits around:

• Eating houses: 8 selective co-ed groups (like a toned-down Greek system) that host weekly dinners and parties
• Wildcat basketball: Games against Atlantic 10 rivals are campus-wide events
• The Alvarez College Union: Hub for 200+ clubs from Quidditch to investment banking

The college actively promotes diversity through its Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, though some students note the campus leans 'upper-middle class.' Traditions run deep, from the Freshman Cake Race (a 1.7-mile dash where winners get cake) to Lake Campus bonfires. With Charlotte just 20 minutes away, students balance small-town charm with big-city access.

Davidson's outcomes are staggering: 95% of 2025 graduates were employed or in grad school within six months, with 80% planning advanced degrees. The college boasts a 92% six-year graduation rate (top 5% nationally) and an 89% medical school acceptance rate?Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants.—more than double the national average. Alumni networks run deep in Southern law firms, DC policy circles, and Wall Street, with McKinsey, Deloitte, and Teach For America among top employers. The Career Development office reports average starting salaries of $65,000, though this likely undercounts liberal arts graduates pursuing fellowships or service work.

At $90,524 total annual cost, Davidson is pricey—but 60% of first-years receive need-based aid?Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. averaging $62,393. The college meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans through grants and work-study, a policy rare among liberal arts colleges. Even families earning over $250,000 may qualify for aid thanks to Davidson's generous thresholds. The net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator shows typical aid packages reducing costs to $26,510 for middle-income students. Merit scholarships are scarce (the college awards just 15 per class), reinforcing its commitment to need-based support.

Davidson pulls off a magic trick: combining the intimacy of a small liberal arts college (seniors present their theses to hometown audiences) with the resources of a research university (see: its $900M endowment). The honor code—where students schedule their own finals and leave laptops unattended in the library—creates remarkable trust. Its location in a wealthy Charlotte suburb attracts recruiters but maintains a distinct campus culture. Most strikingly, Davidson produces graduates who excel in both corporate jobs (25% go into finance/consulting) and public service (it's a top feeder for Peace Corps). This is a college for students who want rigorous academics without cutthroat competition, where Division I basketball coexists with poetry slams.