More selective than 98% of North Carolina colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
30% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 27% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Davidson College over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What Davidson College weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Davidson College reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- Recommendations
- Character and personal qualities
- Essay
- Class rank
- High school GPA
- SAT/ACT scores
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Your demonstrated interest
- Interview
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Where you live
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
High school GPA of Davidson College first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.85. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
100% of first-year students reported a high school GPA.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college. Note: GPA ranges are for students who sent test scores (the college left the all-students column blank).
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
29% of early decision applicants were admitted (358 of 1,232). Admitted students must enroll.
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Davidson College SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Davidson College is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 695 | 750 |
| SAT math | 705 | 780 |
| ACT composite | 31 | 34 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1400 | 1530 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Davidson College admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 13% | 695–750 | 705–780 | 31–34 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 14% | 690–750 | 670–760 | 31–34 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Davidson College compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Davidson College has the 2nd-lowest acceptance rate of 56 North Carolina colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | 6% | 97% | $29,612 |
| 2 | Davidson College | 13% | 91% | $17,379 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 15% | 91% | $11,655 |
| 4 | Wake Forest University | 22% | 89% | $28,719 |
| 5 | Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | 23% | 71% | $17,618 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | 30% | 78% | $14,906 |
| 7 | Saint Augustine's University | 34% | 25% | $24,313 |
| 8 | Carolina University | 40% | 22% | $20,828 |
| 9 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 42% | 85% | $17,303 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All North Carolina colleges →
Who enrolls at Davidson College
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Davidson College admissions questions
What is the Davidson College acceptance rate?
Davidson College accepts 13% of applicants, about 1 in 7. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 1,064 of 7,347 applicants were admitted.
Does Davidson College require the SAT or ACT?
Davidson College considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 30% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 27% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Davidson College?
The middle 50% of Davidson College enrolled first-year students scored 1400–1530 on the SAT and 31–34 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Davidson College?
49% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (519 of 1,064).
What does Davidson College look for in applicants?
Davidson College reports these as very important for first-year applicants: rigor of high school courses, recommendations, character and personal qualities. Important: essay. Considered: class rank, high school GPA, sAT/ACT scores, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, volunteer work, work experience, your demonstrated interest. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Does Davidson College have early decision?
Yes. Davidson College offers binding early decision; 29% of early decision applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (358 of 1,232).
Is Davidson College getting harder to get into?
Davidson College accepted 13% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 14% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Davidson College's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Davidson College overview