Davidson vs. UofSC

Davidson College and University of South Carolina Columbia side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Davidson College
University of South Carolina Columbia

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 60.2%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1270.
  • Cheaper after aid: UofSC. Average net price is $24,488 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs UofSC 70%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs UofSC $51,700 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Davidson College University of South Carolina Columbia
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Davidson13.4%
UofSC60.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Davidson higher
Davidson1400-1530
UofSC1180-1360
Average net price
UofSC $3,232 less
Davidson$27,720
UofSC$24,488
In-state tuition
UofSC $51,722 less
Davidson$64,410
UofSC$12,688
Out-of-state tuition
UofSC $28,438 less
Davidson$64,410
UofSC$35,972
Graduation rate
Davidson +22 pts
Davidson92%
UofSC70%
Median earnings (10 years)
Davidson +$11,800
Davidson$63,500
UofSC$51,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Davidson and UofSC with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Davidson Check my chances at UofSC
  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • UofSC 52,703
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • UofSC 31,701
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • UofSC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • UofSC 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • UofSC 3.69
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • UofSC A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • UofSC Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • UofSC Low
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • UofSC 1180-1360
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • UofSC 26-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • UofSC Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • UofSC $12,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • UofSC $35,972
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • UofSC $13,534
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • UofSC $24,488
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • UofSC $7,139
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • UofSC 91%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • UofSC 70%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • UofSC $51,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • UofSC 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • UofSC $23,250
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • UofSC $240
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • UofSC 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • UofSC 38,532
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • UofSC #220

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (38,532 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); University of South Carolina Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
  • Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Columbia is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; University of South Carolina Columbia 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 20.9% lower than at Davidson College ($13,534 vs. $17,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.1% higher at Davidson than at University of South Carolina Columbia (about $28,438 more per year; $64,410 vs. $35,972).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at Davidson College (91% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 625% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($51,755 vs. $7,139).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Davidson than at UofSC (32 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and UofSC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; UofSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Davidson average a 3.81 high school GPA, 0.12 higher than at UofSC (3.69).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 22.9% at UofSC.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than UofSC graduates ($17,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UofSC graduates ($175 vs. $240).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 69%).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Davidson College
University of South Carolina Columbia
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges