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TCU Baylor UT Austin Washington and Lee UT Dallas University of Richmond Texas A&M Tulane Rice Trinity UNC Chapel Hill Duke| Davidson College | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Davidson | SMU | ||
| Location | Davidson, NC | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,927 | 12,053 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #37 | #67 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | davidson.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Davidson | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,550 | $55,012 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,550 | $55,012 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,750 | $17,750 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,704 | $45,094 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $46,496 | $35,344 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 73% |
Admission |
Davidson | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,479 | 16,150 | ||
| Admitted | 1,098 | 8,439 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 16.9% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 49.4% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/33 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1350/1500 | 1370/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 7, 2024 | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
Davidson | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Davidson | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 92% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $63,500 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 89% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $222 |
Diversity |
Davidson | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Davidson | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 17% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 71% | 58% | ||
Campus |
Davidson | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than Davidson based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 1,927 students)
Davidson vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Davidson or SMU?
- Davidson College is 2.8% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($56,550.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at Davidson than Southern Methodist University ($56,550.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Davidson College than SMU ($26,704 vs. $45,094)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 12.7% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($15,750 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Davidson College (73% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 31.6% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($46,496 vs. $35,344)
Davidson vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Davidson or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Davidson .
- The average SAT score at Davidson College (1355) is 25 points higher than at SMU (1330)
- Incoming Davidson students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at SMU (30)
- Accepted freshman Davidson students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Davidson (16.9%)
Davidson vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Davidson or SMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMU and Davidson.
- The graduation rate at Davidson is higher than Southern Methodist University (92% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $9,500 more per year than Davidson graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $63,500)
- Davidson College students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($17,000 vs. $21,500)
- Davidson graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($175 vs. $222)
- More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/