Davidson College vs Samford
Davidson College and Samford University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Davidson, a private liberal arts college in North Carolina, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 22%, while Samford, a private Christian university in Alabama, offers a more accessible admissions process with an acceptance rate of 78%. Davidson's student body is predominantly white (68%) and female (55%), while Samford's student body is more diverse, with a larger proportion of male students (53%) and a more even distribution of racial and ethnic groups. Both institutions offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Davidson including Economics, English, and Biology, and popular majors at Samford including Nursing, Business, and Education. With graduation rates of 91% and 73% respectively, both Davidson and Samford provide students with the support and resources they need to succeed. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into
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![]() Davidson College |
![]() Samford University |
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Overview |
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Location | Davidson, North Carolina | Birmingham, Alabama |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 89.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | Baptist |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.8% | 83.9% |
Application fees | $50 |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$35
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SAT range | N/A | 1100 - 1290 |
ACT range | N/A | 23 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 22.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 66.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 6,434 | 4,217 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,145 | 3,537 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 547 | 920 |
Yield rate | 47.8% | 26.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | 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 | $53,100 |
Average net price | $25,794 | $31,871 |
Tuition | $54,460 | $34,410 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,700
Meal plan:
$7,525
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Room/dormitory:
$6,150
Meal plan:
$5,110
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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 |
99.0%
Average amount $19,443 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $5,095 |
31.0%
Average amount $5,320 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $33,219 |
6.0%
Average amount $19,317 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,973
Men 47.2% Women 52.8% |
3,607
Men 33.4% Women 66.6% |
Graduate students | N/A |
2,151
Men 32.3% Women 67.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 76.8% | 73.0% |
International students | 8.2% | 0.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,830 | 2,375 |
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 | Alabama Georgia Tennessee Texas Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 89.6% | 78.9% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 20.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
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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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
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