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Compare Davidson College vs Wake Forest University

Davidson, NC · Winston-Salem, NC

Davidson CollegeWake Forest University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$17,379/yr$28,719/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$9,497/yr$6,525/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$18,688$21,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$5,354/yr$6,331/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$6,759/yr$7,647/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$18,616/yr$12,771/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$42,346/yr$58,081/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$198/mo$228/mo
Room & board (on campus)$17,100/yr$18,494/yr
Room & board (off campus)No data reported$18,494/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$825/yr$1,680/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,925/yr$3,386/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$79,475/yr$87,499/yr
Tuition (in-state)$64,410/yr$67,642/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$64,410/yr$67,642/yr
Students with Pell Grants18%10%
Students taking federal loans8.7%14%
Getting in
Students who get accepted13%22%
SAT range (middle 50%)1400–15301410–1520
SAT average14691475
ACT range (middle 50%)31–3432–34
ACT sections (middle 50%)No data reportedEnglish 34–35 · Math 29–34
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received7,34717,479
Students accepted1,0643,768
Students who enrolled5191,385
Accepted students who enroll49%37%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores30%26%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores27%22%
High-school GPAOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
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%89%
Freshmen who come back95%93%
Typical earnings 10 years in$81,400/yr$78,158/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$60,136–$116,852$53,216–$126,384
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)90%90%
White students graduating92%91%
Black students graduating91%79%
Hispanic students graduating85%88%
Asian students graduating96%81%
Typical earnings 6 years in$62,866/yr$67,722/yr
Earn more than a HS grad85%88%
Graduate on time86%84%
Pell students who graduate91%87%
First-gen students who finishNo data reported85%
Low-income students who finishNo data reported79%
Typical earnings 8 years in$71,470/yr$80,513/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 23% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 16% · Psychology 14%Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Social Sciences 21% · Communication & Journalism 10%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 23% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 16% of degreesSocial Sciences — 21% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 14% of degreesCommunication & Journalism — 10% of degrees
4th most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 7% of degreesPsychology — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programPhysical Sciences — 6% of degreesParks, Recreation & Fitness — 8% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)No data reportedRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $202,919/yr
Degrees in STEM31%19%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment1,8675,485
Students per professor8 : 110 : 1
Graduate studentsNo data reported3,832
Average professor pay$13,033/mo$12,666/mo
Full-time professors96%76%
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$94,263
SettingSuburb (large)City (large)
LocationDavidson, NCWinston-Salem, NC
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded18371834
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences FocusDoctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students11%5.8%
Men47%45%
Women53%55%
White students60%65%
Black students6.9%6.4%
Hispanic or Latino students11%9.7%
Asian students5.3%5.3%
Two or more races4.2%4.6%
Other / not reported1.4%3.1%
Special typeReligiously affiliatedNone
First-generation students16%12%
Part-time students0%1.3%
Students age 25+0.1%0.2%
Spent on teaching per student$22,692/yr$35,708/yr
Endowment$1.4B$2.0B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,7884,104
Required to live on campusYes — for first-year studentsNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,200/yr$11,214/yr
Meal plan charge$8,200/yr$9,226/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekNo data reportedVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Religious affiliationPresbyterian Church (USA)No data reported
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesNoYes
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
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 organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoYes
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division I-FBS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1714
Student athletes490440
Athletic scholarships$5.9M$21.5M
Athletics budget$25.4M$114.6M
Athletics revenue$25.5M$114.6M
Recruiting spend$527,114$1.9M

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.