Smith College vs Davidson College
Smith College and Davidson College, two esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Smith, a women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts, boasts a 44% acceptance rate and a student body of over 2,600 undergraduates. Davidson, a coeducational college in Davidson, North Carolina, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 33% and a slightly larger undergraduate population of over 2,300. Both colleges offer a wide range of academic programs, with popular majors at Smith including social sciences, biological sciences, and arts, while Davidson's popular majors include economics, biology, and political science. While Smith's graduation rate is slightly higher at 88%, Davidson's is still impressive at 86%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences between these two excellent institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Davidson College |
![]() Smith College |
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Overview |
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Location | Davidson, North Carolina | Northampton, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.8% | 29.9% |
Application fees | $50 | $60 |
SAT range | N/A | 1370 - 1530 |
ACT range | N/A | 31 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 34.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 6,434 | 6,064 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,145 | 1,814 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 547 | 676 |
Yield rate | 47.8% | 37.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $73,200 | $68,128 |
Average net price | $25,794 | $29,569 |
Tuition | $54,460 | $55,830 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,700
Meal plan:
$7,525
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Room/dormitory:
$9,700
Meal plan:
$9,720
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
64.0%
Average amount $47,889 |
70.0%
Average amount $44,108 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $5,095 |
35.0%
Average amount $3,560 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $33,219 |
5.0%
Average amount $8,280 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,973
Men 47.2% Women 52.8% |
2,566
Men 0.1% Women 99.9% |
Graduate students | N/A |
358
Men 16.2% Women 83.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 76.8% | N/A |
International students | 8.2% | 13.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,830 | 2,519 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina Virginia Texas New Jersey Florida | Mississippi New York California Connecticut Maryland |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 89.6% | 91.0% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 3.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 5.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Political Science and Government (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
English Language and Literature, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Biology, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Psychology, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Anthropology (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
History (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
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Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
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