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Davidson College
Davidson, NC 1,867 Undergrads 89.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$79,475
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,379
After Aid
Median Earnings
$72,718
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$17,379
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$72,718Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$81,400Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate89.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients17.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
13.4%
SAT Avg
1,469
SAT Reading
25th: 695-75th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 705-75th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 31-75th: 34
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$635k
+$168k
+$150k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$572k
+$105k
+$88k
Full Cost$79k/yr
+$349k
-$118k
-$136k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
37
140%
Full Cost$79k/yr
Never
-47%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return2%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-64%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Anthropology
CertCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Area Studies
CertCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
CertCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$31,670
Natl Median: $52,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Chemistry
CertCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
CertCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,761
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
CertCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,690
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
CertCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,337
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CertCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$101,310
Natl Median: $101,310
Lifetime Value Added
+$584k
English Language and Literature, General
CertCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,000
Natl Median: $29,202
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
CertCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,315
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
CertCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,075
Natl Median: $53,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
CertCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,646
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
CertCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,699
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,318
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
CertCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,561
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
CertCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,871
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
CertCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
CertCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,438
Natl Median: $72,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$585k
Psychology, General
CertCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,714
Natl Median: $45,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Religion/Religious Studies
CertCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,391
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CertCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,240
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Sociology
CertCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,959
Natl Median: $50,205
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Bachelor's Degrees
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.