Organizer Information
Davidson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina, United States. The institution offers undergraduate education leading to a first bachelor's degree and does not offer graduate programs or second bachelor's degrees. Its academic offerings include majors, minors, and interdisciplinary programs across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Davidson College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Arts (A.B./B.A.); Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Academic Fields: Art, Film & Media, Theatre, Dance, Music, Creative Writing, Humanities, and related interdisciplinary fields
- Relevant Programs: Art; Film, Media, and Digital Studies; Theatre; Film and Media Studies minor; Digital Studies minor
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: 1 August 2026–11 January 2027 for first-year applicants, depending on application plan
- Application Deadline: 15 November 2026 (Early Decision I); 4 January 2027 (Early Decision II); 11 January 2027 (Regular Decision)
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
- Application Fee: $0
- Tuition: $73,090 for 2026–2027; 2027–2028 tuition not yet published
- Funding: Need-based financial aid, scholarships, grants, and student employment; international aid is available under specified conditions
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Davidson's arts-related academic offerings include Art, Film, Media, and Digital Studies, Theatre, and arts-related study in dance, music, literary arts, and interdisciplinary programs. The Art Department offers an A.B. with an emphasis in art history or studio art. Film, Media, and Digital Studies combines critical study of film, media, digital culture, and creative media practice.
- The college also permits interdisciplinary study through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, allowing students to pursue subjects that cross traditional academic boundaries.
General Eligibility
- Davidson is an undergraduate institution for students pursuing their first bachelor's degree. First-year applicants must complete secondary-school graduation requirements before enrollment. Davidson states that, except in exceptional circumstances, applicants should have completed at least 16 high-school units, including English, mathematics, a second language, science, and history/social studies.
- International students follow the first-year application process used by domestic applicants, with additional English-proficiency and financial-verification requirements.
- Transfer applicants must have completed at least one full year of acceptable college coursework and must plan to complete at least two academic years at Davidson.
- For arts applicants, an arts portfolio is not required for admission. Applicants may voluntarily submit an arts portfolio for faculty review and scholarship consideration.
Language Requirements
- International applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET). Davidson identifies scores of IELTS 7, TOEFL iBT 100, or DET 130 as levels associated with students best prepared for study at the college.
- The requirement may be waived for applicants from countries where English is an official language, students taking English A in the IB Diploma, or students who completed four years of high school in the United States.
Application Fee
| Applicant Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| First-year applicants | $0 |
| International applicants | $0 |
| Transfer applicants | $0 |
Davidson permanently eliminated its $50 application fee in July 2026.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, 2026–2027 published rate | Domestic and international | $73,090 | Annual | $650 required fees; $250 orientation fee |
The published 2026–2027 cost of attendance lists the same $73,090 tuition for domestic and international first-year students. Housing, food, health insurance, books, transportation, and other expenses are additional. The 2027–2028 financial-aid forms have not yet been released, so a 2027–2028 tuition figure should not be inferred.
Funding & Financial Support
- Davidson provides need-based financial aid to international first-year applicants applying through Early Decision or Regular Decision. For admitted students who qualify, the college states that it meets 100% of calculated financial need; international financial aid is limited and competitive, and applicants must request aid during the admission process.
- Arts funding includes the Pepper Visual Arts Scholarship, valued at $15,000 annually and renewable for up to three additional years subject to its requirements. Applicants submit an Arts Portfolio Interest Form and a portfolio of 5–15 images.
University Services & Academic Support
- Davidson provides undergraduate research and creative-work opportunities, faculty collaboration, research grants, independent study, and interdisciplinary experiential learning.
- Arts students have access to facilities including the Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center, galleries, studios, sculpture facilities, a digital art lab, and the DACE Studio.
- Academic support includes the Center for Teaching and Learning and library research services, while the Matthews Center for Career Development provides support for internships, fellowships, employment, and postgraduate planning.
Application Requirements
- First-year applicants must submit an application through the Common Application or Coalition Application, an official high-school transcript, personal statement, Davidson supplemental responses, a counselor/college-advisor recommendation, two academic teacher recommendations, and a peer recommendation.
- SAT and ACT scores are optional.
- For international applicants, additional requirements include English-proficiency documentation and a Financial Verification Form. An application video is optional; Davidson also recommends, but does not require, an InitialView or Vericant interview for international applicants.
- Arts portfolios are optional. Film/video applicants submitting an arts portfolio may provide 3–5 minutes of work, while theatre applicants may submit an audio or video portfolio of up to 10 minutes.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Opens: 1 August 2026
- Early Decision I Deadline: 15 November 2026
- Early Decision I Notifications: 12 December 2026
- Early Decision II Deadline: 4 January 2027
- Early Decision II Notifications: 30 January 2027
- Regular Decision Deadline: 11 January 2027
- Regular Decision Notifications: 1 April 2027
- Enrollment Deadline: 1 May 2027
- Fall Transfer Deadline: 1 April 2027
- Fall Transfer Notifications: Early June 2027
- Arts Portfolio Deadline — Early Decision I: 15 November 2026
- Arts Portfolio Deadline — Early Decision II: 4 January 2027
- Arts Portfolio Deadline — Regular Decision: 11 January 2027
Location
Davidson College — Davidson, North Carolina, United States
Additional Details
Davidson is exclusively an undergraduate college and does not offer master's programs, doctoral programs, or second bachelor's degrees.
For students entering in Fall 2027, Davidson's new simplified affordability policy provides tuition-free attendance for U.S. citizens living in the United States or people with full U.S. residency whose family income is $175,000 or less, subject to the college's stated income and asset conditions. Families with income of $85,000 or less may receive coverage of tuition, housing, meals, and fees. These thresholds do not constitute the international financial-aid policy.