AU vs. Davidson

American University and Davidson College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

American University
Davidson College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 62%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1370.
  • Cheaper after aid: Davidson. Average net price is $27,720 vs $39,676 at AU.
  • Graduation: AU 77% vs Davidson 92%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: AU $64,800 vs Davidson $63,500 (median).
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Key differences

American University Davidson College
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
AU62%
Davidson13.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Davidson higher
AU1280-1460
Davidson1400-1530
Average net price
Davidson $11,956 less
AU$39,676
Davidson$27,720
In-state tuition
AU $5,639 less
AU$58,771
Davidson$64,410
Out-of-state tuition
AU $5,639 less
AU$58,771
Davidson$64,410
Graduation rate
Davidson +15 pts
AU77%
Davidson92%
Median earnings (10 years)
AU +$1,300
AU$64,800
Davidson$63,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Acceptance rate
  • AU 62%
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • AU 15.6%
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Davidson 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Davidson 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Typical high school grades
  • AU A-
  • Davidson A-
  • Admissions standards
  • AU Very High
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • AU Low
  • Davidson Very High
  • SAT range
  • AU 1280-1460
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • ACT range
  • AU 29-32
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Submit test scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • AU $58,771
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • AU $58,771
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Room & board
  • AU $17,982
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Average net price
  • AU $39,676
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Average grant aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Davidson $51,755
  • % receiving grant aid
  • AU 67%
  • Davidson 65%
  • Graduation rate
  • AU 77%
  • Davidson 92%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • AU 80%
  • Davidson 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Median loan payment
  • AU $250
  • Davidson $175
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • AU #94
  • Davidson #32

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Davidson College in Davidson, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

American University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Davidson College is in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Davidson College 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 4.9% lower than at American University ($17,100 vs. $17,982).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.6% higher at Davidson than at American University (about $5,639 more per year; $64,410 vs. $58,771).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Davidson College (67% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 42.4% larger than aid received by American University students ($51,755 vs. $36,349).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Davidson than at AU (32 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both AU and Davidson.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Davidson average a 3.81 high school GPA, 0.11 higher than at AU (3.7).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($17,000 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($175 vs. $250).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 80%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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