Davidson College

Overview

English Name: Davidson College

Founded: 1837

Control Type: Private

Entity Type: Non-profit

Religious Affiliation: Christian-Presbyterian

World Rank: #2653

Rank in United States: #316

Motto: Alenda Lux Ubi Orta Libertas

Colours: Red and black

Mascot: Will E. Wildcat

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Founded in 1837, the Davidson College is a non-profit private liberal arts higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the medium town of Davidson (population range of 2,500-9,999 inhabitants), North Carolina.

Officially accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Davidson College is a very small-sized coeducational US higher education institution formally affiliated with the Christian-Presbyterian religion. Davidson College offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees in several areas of study.

This 187-year-old US higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades. The acceptance rate range is 10-19% making this US higher education organization an extremely selective institution.

International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.

Davidson College also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Davidson College's on-the-ground location and digital channels to engage with the institution. Library access for prospective students is often arranged separately through the main library team.

Academic Details

A snapshot of Davidson College's academic profile — enrolment, staffing, and the bodies recognising its work. Useful as a benchmark when comparing against peer institutions or national leaders.

Programs Offered

The programmes available at Davidson College are organised by level. Most institutions cluster intake decisions by faculty, so application timelines often run in waves through the year.

How to apply to Davidson College

A short guide to applying to Davidson College — five steps covering the path from programme selection to confirmation of receipt.

1. 1
   Research programmes at Davidson College

   Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Davidson College offers 61 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

2. 2
   Review admissions criteria

   Each programme at Davidson College has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

3. 3
   Gather supporting documents

   Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

4. 4
   Lodge your application

   Apply directly via Davidson College's online portal at www.davidson.edu. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.

5. 5
   Confirm receipt and track progress

   After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +1 (704) 894 2000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Davidson College

Quick answers to the most common questions about Davidson College — covering location, founding, ranking, programmes, and admissions context.

Top-Ranked Universities in the United States

the United States's leading universities appear below, useful for benchmarking Davidson College's academic standing. Use this list as the upper-bound reference for academic prestige within the United States.

Harvard University

Cambridge · Private · Rank #1

Stanford University

Stanford · Private · Rank #8

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore · Private · Rank #13

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge · Private · Rank #16

University of Washington

Seattle · Public · Rank #19

Members of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Member institutions of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) often have reciprocity arrangements on accreditation — degrees from one member institution typically face fewer credential-recognition issues at others.

Shippensburg University

Shippensburg · Public · Rank #21

Cornell University

Ithaca · Private · Rank #25

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley · Public · Rank #41

Duke University

Durham · Private · Rank #48

New York University

New York City · Private · Rank #49

Other American Universities Affiliated with Christian-Presbyterian

Universities sharing Davidson College's Christian-Presbyterian affiliation are listed below — useful if faith context shapes your shortlist. Faith-context shortlisting overlaps with but is distinct from academic shortlisting.

The University of Tulsa

Tulsa · Private · Rank #1581

Macalester College

Saint Paul · Private · Rank #3284

Lafayette College

Easton · Private · Rank #3345

The College of Wooster

Wooster · Private · Rank #3979

Rhodes College

Memphis · Private · Rank #4166

Faculties at Nearby Universities

Beyond Davidson College, the surrounding area hosts several universities with overlapping research strengths and faculty mixes. They are worth comparing if location flexibility matters to your decision and you want to keep options open within the same region.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill · Public · Rank #60

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem · Private · Rank #482

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte · Public · Rank #961

Lehigh University

Bethlehem · Private · Rank #1178

University of Denver

Denver · Private · Rank #1352

Where Else to Study Social & Cultural Studies

Programme-led research opportunities for Social & Cultural Studies students differ. Research-active programmes give undergraduates access to active labs; teaching-only programmes do not.

Adler University

Chicago · Private · Rank #32

University of Chicago

Chicago · Private · Rank #53

Northwestern University

Evanston · Private · Rank #63

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Minneapolis · Public · Rank #70

University of Florida

Gainesville · Public · Rank #71

Universities Often Compared with Davidson College

Endowment and financial peer comparison signals institutional resources and scholarship depth. Universities comparable to Davidson College in this dimension often offer similar aid packages.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Kingsville · Public · Rank #2649

University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage · Public · Rank #2627

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond · Public · Rank #2705

William Paterson University

Wayne · Public · Rank #2712

Williams College

Williamstown · Private · Rank #2591