Davidson vs. Elon

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

Davidson College
Elon University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 66.3%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1210.
  • Cheaper after aid: Davidson. Average net price is $27,720 vs $44,440 at Elon.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs Elon 82%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs Elon $56,200 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College Elon University
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Davidson13.4%
Elon66.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Davidson higher
Davidson1400-1530
Elon1130-1280
Average net price
Davidson $16,720 less
Davidson$27,720
Elon$44,440
In-state tuition
Elon $17,452 less
Davidson$64,410
Elon$46,958
Out-of-state tuition
Elon $17,452 less
Davidson$64,410
Elon$46,958
Graduation rate
Davidson +10 pts
Davidson92%
Elon82%
Median earnings (10 years)
Davidson +$7,300
Davidson$63,500
Elon$56,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Elon 18,105
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Elon 12,012
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • Elon 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • Elon 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Elon 3.65
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • Elon A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Elon Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • Elon Low
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • Elon 1130-1280
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Elon 23-28
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Elon Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Elon $46,958
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Elon $46,958
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Elon $14,985
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Elon $44,440
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • Elon $17,867
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • Elon 77%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • Elon 82%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Elon $56,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • Elon 86%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Elon $23,250
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • Elon $240
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Elon 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Elon 7,239
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • Elon #140

Comparable Facts

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

Elon University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (7,239 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Elon University is in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting).
  • Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Elon University 11:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 12.4% lower than at Davidson College ($14,985 vs. $17,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.2% higher at Davidson than at Elon University (about $17,452 more per year; $64,410 vs. $46,958).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at Davidson College (77% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 189.7% larger than aid received by Elon University students ($51,755 vs. $17,867).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 7 points higher at Davidson than at Elon (32 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and Elon.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Elon Jan 10, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Davidson average a 3.81 high school GPA, 0.16 higher than at Elon (3.65).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 13.4% at Elon.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($17,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elon graduates ($175 vs. $240).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elon students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 86%).

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

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