Davidson vs. Duke

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

Davidson College
Duke University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Duke (5.7% admitted vs 13.4%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1470.
  • Cheaper after aid: Duke. Average net price is $21,981 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs Duke 94%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs Duke $108,900 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College Duke University
Acceptance rate
Duke more selective
Davidson13.4%
Duke5.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Duke higher
Davidson1400-1530
Duke1500-1570
Average net price
Duke $5,739 less
Davidson$27,720
Duke$21,981
In-state tuition
Davidson $4,348 less
Davidson$64,410
Duke$68,758
Out-of-state tuition
Davidson $4,348 less
Davidson$64,410
Duke$68,758
Graduation rate
Duke +2 pts
Davidson92%
Duke94%
Median earnings (10 years)
Duke +$45,400
Davidson$63,500
Duke$108,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Duke 51,795
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Duke 2,957
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • Duke 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • Duke 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Duke 3.94
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • Duke A
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Duke Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • Duke Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • Duke 1500-1570
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Duke 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Duke Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Duke $68,758
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Duke $68,758
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Duke $18,128
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Duke $21,981
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • Duke $65,522
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • Duke 43%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • Duke 94%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Duke $108,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • Duke 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Duke $7,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • Duke $77
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Duke 5:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Duke 17,499
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • Duke #2

Comparable Facts

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

Duke University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 5.7% lower than at Duke University ($17,100 vs. $18,128).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Duke than at Davidson College (about $4,348 more per year; $68,758 vs. $64,410).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Duke University (65% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 26.6% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($65,522 vs. $51,755).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Duke than at Davidson (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and Duke.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Duke average a 3.94 high school GPA, 0.13 higher than at Davidson (3.81).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 58.8% at Duke.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($7,500 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($77 vs. $175).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duke students, three years after graduation (89% 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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