Davidson vs. Vanderbilt

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

Davidson College
Vanderbilt University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Vanderbilt (5.9% admitted vs 13.4%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1470.
  • Cheaper after aid: Vanderbilt. Average net price is $25,186 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs Vanderbilt 92%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs Vanderbilt $83,100 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College Vanderbilt University
Acceptance rate
Vanderbilt more selective
Davidson13.4%
Vanderbilt5.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Vanderbilt higher
Davidson1400-1530
Vanderbilt1500-1570
Average net price
Vanderbilt $2,534 less
Davidson$27,720
Vanderbilt$25,186
In-state tuition
Davidson $3,088 less
Davidson$64,410
Vanderbilt$67,498
Out-of-state tuition
Davidson $3,088 less
Davidson$64,410
Vanderbilt$67,498
Graduation rate
Davidson +0 pts
Davidson92%
Vanderbilt92%
Median earnings (10 years)
Vanderbilt +$19,600
Davidson$63,500
Vanderbilt$83,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • Vanderbilt 1500-1570
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Vanderbilt 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • Vanderbilt 67%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • Vanderbilt $144
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • Vanderbilt #16

Comparable Facts

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

Vanderbilt University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (13,575 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 22.5% lower than at Vanderbilt University ($17,100 vs. $22,054).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at Vanderbilt than at Davidson College (about $3,088 more per year; $67,498 vs. $64,410).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanderbilt University than at Davidson College (67% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 24.4% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($64,404 vs. $51,755).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Vanderbilt than at Davidson (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and Vanderbilt.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Vanderbilt average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.08 higher than at Davidson (3.81).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 61.2% at Vanderbilt.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vanderbilt University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($14,000 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vanderbilt graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($144 vs. $175).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanderbilt students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 83%).

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

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