Is Davidson test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1460 and hold it if it's under.

What is Davidson's acceptance rate?

13% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 1,085 of 8,114 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 51%, from 5,382 in 2015 to 8,114 in 2024, and Davidson's admit rate went from 22% to 13%.

What ACT score do you need for Davidson?

24% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 32–34, with a median of 33. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1410–1500 works out to about 31–34.

Why might Davidson's SAT range look high?

Only 25% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

What GPA do you need for Davidson?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.85 high school GPA, and 80% of those who reported a class rank were in their top 10%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

Does applying early decision help at Davidson?

29% of early decision applicants were admitted (358 of 1,232), against 13% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Davidson?

28 of the 953 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 2.9%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Davidson? (Middle 50%: 1410–1500)

First-year students at Davidson who sent an SAT scored 1410–1500, with a median of 1460 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Davidson admits 13% of applicants and is test optional.

Davidson College · Davidson, NC

Where your score lands at Davidson

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1410–1500, median 1460

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Davidson is for you and whether to send your score.

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Davidson by the numbers

Admit rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT: 1410–1500
Median SAT: 1460
About on the ACT: 31–34
Sent an SAT: 25%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Davidson admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Davidson admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 51%, from 5,382 in 2015 to 8,114 in 2024, and Davidson's admit rate went from 22% to 13%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	8,114	1,085	13%
2023	7,347	1,064	14%
2022	6,479	1,098	17%
2021	6,434	1,145	18%
2020	5,621	1,124	20%
2019	5,982	1,080	18%
2018	5,724	1,116	19%
2017	5,673	1,148	20%
2016	5,618	1,130	20%
2015	5,382	1,191	22%

In fall 2024, 520 of the 1,085 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Davidson

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1360Far reachHold
1360–1450ReachHold
1460 and upReachSend

1250135014501550

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Davidson SAT sections, ACT, GPA and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	695	720	760
SAT Reading and Writing	710	740	755
SAT total	1410	1460	1500
ACT composite	32	33	34

Of enrolled first-year students, 25% sent an SAT and 24% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.85; 100% of new students reported one
Top 10% of their class: 80%; of new students who reported a rank

Davidson early decision and waitlist

Early decision

358 of 1,232 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision29%
All applicants13%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

1,968 applicants were offered a spot, 953 took it, and 28 were admitted from it.

2.9%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Davidson cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $17,379; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 91%
Median earnings: $81,400; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 2,073

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

Davidson Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Davidson admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Davidson website
Davidson College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1410–1500, and the median was 1460. At 1460 or higher you're above half of them. Davidson admits 13% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$