Davidson vs. WCU

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

Davidson College
Western Carolina University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 81.8%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: WCU. Average net price is $13,767 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs WCU 50%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs WCU $39,100 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College Western Carolina University
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Davidson13.4%
WCU81.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Davidson higher
Davidson1400-1530
WCU1080-1270
Average net price
WCU $13,953 less
Davidson$27,720
WCU$13,767
In-state tuition
WCU $59,780 less
Davidson$64,410
WCU$4,630
Out-of-state tuition
WCU $55,780 less
Davidson$64,410
WCU$8,630
Graduation rate
Davidson +42 pts
Davidson92%
WCU50%
Median earnings (10 years)
Davidson +$24,400
Davidson$63,500
WCU$39,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • WCU 19,742
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • WCU 16,154
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • WCU 81.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • WCU 12.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • WCU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • WCU 22
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • WCU 3.44
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • WCU Moderate
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • WCU
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • WCU 1080-1270
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • WCU 19-25
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • WCU $4,630
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • WCU $8,630
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • WCU $12,354
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • WCU $13,767
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • WCU $5,993
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • WCU 81%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • WCU 50%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • WCU $39,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • WCU 58%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • WCU $22,010
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • WCU $227
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • WCU 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • WCU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • WCU 11,686
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • WCU #698

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Western Carolina University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Western Carolina University is in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting).
  • Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Western Carolina University 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 27.8% lower than at Davidson College ($12,354 vs. $17,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 646.3% higher at Davidson than at Western Carolina University (about $55,780 more per year; $64,410 vs. $8,630).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Carolina University than at Davidson College (81% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 763.6% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($51,755 vs. $5,993).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 10 points higher at Davidson than at WCU (32 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and WCU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; WCU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Davidson average a 3.81 high school GPA, 0.37 higher than at WCU (3.44).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 12.7% at WCU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $5,010 lower median loan debt than WCU graduates ($17,000 vs. $22,010).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WCU graduates ($175 vs. $227).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 58%).

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

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