Davidson vs. NC State

Davidson College and North Carolina State University at Raleigh side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Davidson College
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 41.7%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1390.
  • Cheaper after aid: NC State. Average net price is $15,522 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs NC State 72%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs NC State $57,200 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Davidson13.4%
NC State41.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Davidson higher
Davidson1400-1530
NC State1300-1470
Average net price
NC State $12,198 less
Davidson$27,720
NC State$15,522
In-state tuition
NC State $55,611 less
Davidson$64,410
NC State$8,799
Out-of-state tuition
NC State $31,563 less
Davidson$64,410
NC State$32,847
Graduation rate
Davidson +20 pts
Davidson92%
NC State72%
Median earnings (10 years)
Davidson +$6,300
Davidson$63,500
NC State$57,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • NC State 30
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • NC State Low
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • NC State 1300-1470
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • NC State 28-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • NC State $11,675
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • NC State 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • NC State $214
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • NC State #124

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 16.2% lower than at Davidson College ($14,332 vs. $17,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 96.1% higher at Davidson than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $31,563 more per year; $64,410 vs. $32,847).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (65% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 343.3% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($51,755 vs. $11,675).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Davidson than at NC State (32 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and NC State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at NC State average a 3.83 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at Davidson (3.81).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 31.8% at NC State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $3,782 lower median loan debt than NC State graduates ($17,000 vs. $20,782).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NC State graduates ($175 vs. $214).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 76%).

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

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