Davidson vs. Meredith

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with Meredith College in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Davidson College is larger than Meredith based on total student enrollment (1,869 students vs. 1,465 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Davidson vs. Meredith Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson or Meredith? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Meredith College than Davidson ($24,323 vs. $27,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Meredith College are 22.3% lower than at Davidson College ($13,280 vs. $17,100).
• Davidson College is 41.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Meredith (about $18,780 more per year; $64,410.00 vs. $45,630.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.2% higher at Davidson than at Meredith College (about $18,780 more per year; $64,410.00 vs. $45,630.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Meredith College than at Davidson College (100% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 56.3% larger than aid received by Meredith College students ($51,755 vs. $33,116).

Davidson vs. Meredith Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Davidson or Meredith? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Meredith and Davidson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Davidson College (1470) is 250 points higher than at Meredith (1220).
• Incoming Davidson students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at Meredith).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 1400/1530; Meredith College 1098/1348.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 31/34; Meredith College 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; Meredith - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Meredith Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Davidson students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Meredith (3.52).
• Meredith has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 18.5% at Meredith.

Davidson vs. Meredith Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson and Meredith? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Davidson College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Meredith College's (59%).
• Graduates from Davidson College earn a median of about $23,500 more per year than Meredith graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,500 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than Meredith graduates ($17,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Meredith graduates ($175 vs. $268).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Meredith students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.