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Compare Davidson College vs Duke University

Davidson, NC · Durham, NC

Davidson CollegeDuke University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$17,379/yr$29,612/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$9,497/yr$735/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$18,688$13,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$5,354/yr-$361/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$6,759/yr$5,706/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$18,616/yr$17,100/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$42,346/yr$54,230/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$198/mo$138/mo
Room & board (on campus)$17,100/yr$18,128/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$825/yr$536/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,925/yr$3,274/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$79,475/yr$87,072/yr
Tuition (in-state)$64,410/yr$68,758/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$64,410/yr$68,758/yr
Students with Pell Grants18%14%
Students taking federal loans8.7%14%
Getting in
Students who get accepted13%5.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)1400–15301500–1570
SAT average14691548
ACT range (middle 50%)31–3434–35
ACT sections (middle 50%)No data reportedEnglish 35–36 · Math 32–35
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received7,34746,365
Students accepted1,0643,145
Students who enrolled5191,742
Accepted students who enroll49%55%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores30%50%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores27%31%
High-school GPAOptional (considered if sent)Required
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankNot consideredNot considered
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredNot considered
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate91%97%
Freshmen who come back95%98%
Typical earnings 10 years in$81,400/yr$97,800/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$60,136–$116,852$66,351–$171,770
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)90%97%
White students graduating92%97%
Black students graduating91%92%
Hispanic students graduating85%96%
Asian students graduating96%98%
Typical earnings 6 years in$62,866/yr$85,792/yr
Earn more than a HS grad85%92%
Graduate on time86%87%
Pell students who graduate91%96%
First-gen students who finishNo data reported93%
Low-income students who finishNo data reported91%
Students who transfer outNo data reported1%
Typical earnings 8 years in$71,470/yr$95,882/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 23% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 16% · Psychology 14%Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 17% · Engineering 15% · Social Sciences 14%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 23% of degreesMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies — 17% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 16% of degreesEngineering — 15% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 14% of degreesSocial Sciences — 14% of degrees
4th most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 7% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degrees
5th most popular programPhysical Sciences — 6% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 11% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)No data reportedLegal Research and Advanced Professional Studies — $213,539/yr
Degrees in STEM31%43%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment1,8676,442
Students per professor8 : 15 : 1
Graduate studentsNo data reported10,976
Average professor pay$13,033/mo$19,001/mo
Full-time professors96%94%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$80,076$61,560
SettingSuburb (large)City (large)
LocationDavidson, NCDurham, NC
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded18371838
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences FocusDoctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students11%11%
Men47%46%
Women53%54%
White students60%35%
Black students6.9%8.7%
Hispanic or Latino students11%11%
Asian students5.3%22%
Two or more races4.2%7.4%
Other / not reported1.4%5.7%
Special typeReligiously affiliatedReligiously affiliated
First-generation students16%13%
Part-time students0%0.4%
Students age 25+0.1%0.3%
Spent on teaching per student$22,692/yr$87,044/yr
Endowment$1.4B$11.9B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,7885,775
Required to live on campusYes — for first-year studentsYes — for first-year students
Room charge (campus housing)$8,200/yr$9,884/yr
Meal plan charge$8,200/yr$7,475/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekNo data reportedVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Religious affiliationPresbyterian Church (USA)United Methodist
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army, Navy, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesYes
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesNoYes
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationNoYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyNoYes
Job placement for graduatesNoYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoNo
Student veteran organizationNoYes
Tuition payment planYesNo
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoYes
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division I-FBS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1723
Student athletes490730
Athletic scholarships$5.9M$30.1M
Athletics budget$25.4M$180.6M
Athletics revenue$25.5M$181.6M
Recruiting spend$527,114$3.6M

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.