Davidson vs. Carnegie Mellon

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

Davidson College
Carnegie Mellon University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Carnegie Mellon (11.7% admitted vs 13.4%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1470.
  • Cheaper after aid: Davidson. Average net price is $27,720 vs $35,552 at Carnegie Mellon.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs Carnegie Mellon 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs Carnegie Mellon $102,700 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College Carnegie Mellon University
Acceptance rate
Carnegie Mellon more selective
Davidson13.4%
Carnegie Mellon11.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Carnegie Mellon higher
Davidson1400-1530
Carnegie Mellon1500-1570
Average net price
Davidson $7,832 less
Davidson$27,720
Carnegie Mellon$35,552
In-state tuition
Davidson $1,836 less
Davidson$64,410
Carnegie Mellon$66,246
Out-of-state tuition
Davidson $1,836 less
Davidson$64,410
Carnegie Mellon$66,246
Graduation rate
Davidson +5 pts
Davidson92%
Carnegie Mellon87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Carnegie Mellon +$39,200
Davidson$63,500
Carnegie Mellon$102,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500-1570
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Carnegie Mellon 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • Carnegie Mellon $271
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • Carnegie Mellon #45

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 5.9% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($17,100 vs. $18,166).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Davidson College (about $1,836 more per year; $66,246 vs. $64,410).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Carnegie Mellon University (65% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($51,755 vs. $48,107).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Davidson (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and Carnegie Mellon.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Carnegie Mellon average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.08 higher than at Davidson (3.81).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $9,250 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($17,000 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($175 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Davidson students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 89%).

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

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