Amherst vs. Davidson

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

Amherst College
Davidson College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Amherst (9% admitted vs 13.4%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1470.
  • Cheaper after aid: Amherst. Average net price is $19,049 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs Davidson 92%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs Davidson $63,500 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Amherst College Davidson College
Acceptance rate
Amherst more selective
Amherst9%
Davidson13.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Amherst1490-1580
Davidson1400-1530
Average net price
Amherst $8,671 less
Amherst$19,049
Davidson$27,720
In-state tuition
Davidson $6,070 less
Amherst$70,480
Davidson$64,410
Out-of-state tuition
Davidson $6,070 less
Amherst$70,480
Davidson$64,410
Graduation rate
Amherst +4 pts
Amherst96%
Davidson92%
Median earnings (10 years)
Amherst +$18,500
Amherst$82,000
Davidson$63,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Amherst and Davidson with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Amherst Check my chances at Davidson
  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Davidson 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Davidson 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • Davidson A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Davidson Very High
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Davidson $51,755
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Davidson 65%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Davidson 92%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Davidson 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Davidson $175
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Davidson #32

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Davidson College in Davidson, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Amherst College is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Davidson College is in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Davidson College 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 7% lower than at Amherst College ($17,100 vs. $18,390).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Amherst than at Davidson College (about $6,070 more per year; $70,480 vs. $64,410).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Amherst College (65% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 32.5% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($68,591 vs. $51,755).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Amherst than at Davidson (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and Davidson.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Amherst average a 3.91 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at Davidson (3.81).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $4,025 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($12,975 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($134 vs. $175).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 83%).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Amherst College
Davidson College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges