Davidson College
Davidson College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Davidson College at a Glance
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina, United States. It was established in 1837 by the Concord Presbytery and named after Revolutionary War general William Lee Davidson, who was killed at the nearby Battle of Cowan's Ford.
1837
189 years old
$1.5B
$1.46 billion (2025)
2,073
2,079 undergrad
207
Identity
How to Apply to Davidson College
Official admissions pageNovember 15 (Early Decision I)
Testing policy
Is Davidson College Worth It?
Davidson College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $17,379/year net price and $81,400 median earnings, graduates earn 4.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 91% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 13% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Bottom line: Davidson College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Davidson College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 25 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Davidson College | 100 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| #2 | Bowdoin College | 100 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| #3 | Colby College | 100 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| #4 | Williams College | 100 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| #5 | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | 100 | $13,269 | $83,847 |
| #6 | Pomona College | 94 | $19,285 | $77,779 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Davidson College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Davidson College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Davidson College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,379/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in NC
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Davidson, NC
- Student Body
- 1,867 students
- Admission Rate
- 13%
- Graduation Rate
- 91%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,379
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $81,400
- Median Student Debt
- $18,688