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Davidson College

Davidson, NC
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Davidson College

Photo: Davidson College. Retrieved from: www.forbes.com

Davidson College is a private liberal arts institution with fewer than 2,000 students. The school is located in a suburban area, and the campus is picturesque. Many of the building structures are reminders that the school was founded in the early 1800s. Different majors are offered in over 20 fields, with the most popular being Art, Biology, Economics, English, History, Political Science, Psychology and Spanish.

Davidson also offers several minors and self-designed interdisciplinary majors. The school is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, which played a big role in the school’s founding. The motto of the school reflects its dedication to the liberal arts education of its students, “Let Learning Be Cherished Where Liberty Has Arisen“.

School History

The college, like the town of Davidson, was named after Brigadier General William Lee Davidson, a Revolutionary War Commander, and the first benefactor of the college. The land used for the campus belonged to him, and was donated to the institution by his son. The charter for the college was granted in 1837. Presbyterian leaders have spearheaded the campaign for a new school in the region and maintain an affiliation with the college.

Throughout the 1800s, Davidson benefited from a slew of generous donations from businessmen and successful alumni. One notable donation was from Maxwell Chambers, and the amount was $250,000. This amount of endowment made Davidson one of the wealthiest colleges of the time. The fifth of May, 1972 was historic for Davidson because the school accepted women enrollees after a century of being an all-male college.

Campus Life

Davidson College student services include health insurance, tutoring, late-night transport and escort services and controlled residence hall access. Over 95% of the students live on-campus, in the many houses reserved for students of all year levels. Each residence hall is committed to supporting the academic performance and social growth of the residents. There are nearly 150 student organizations in Davidson, and some of these clubs are particularly geared towards enriching a student’s academic and social life. Besides joining the Greek system, there is a plethora of ways for students to get involved.

Davidson is a school for those that like to volunteer. There is a Center for Civic Engagement, which handles the service side of the college, and through this program students can find a way to give back to the community. Every year, the Center hosts a fair where students, faculty members and civic organizations meet to discuss volunteer work opportunities.

One of the most popular clubs around is the Outdoors Club. Students, faculty and staff that love the outdoors can join this group and plan trips and activities that involve mountain biking, climbing, canoeing, rafting and backpacking.

Financial Aid

Davidson College recently set up Davidson Trust, which made it possible for the institution to become the first national liberal arts college to replace student loans with grants when it comes to financial aid packages. The switch from student loans to grants and scholarships was significant, given the reality that so many graduates of the best universities routinely end up saddled with a huge amount of debt after graduation. Thus, a package of financial aid options from Davidson may soon be made up of only scholarships, work-study programs and grants.

Davidson financial aid packages may also include student employment opportunities. The college accepts students based on merit and not on their capacity to afford the education. The average debt after graduation is around $25,000.

Rankings

2017 College Rankings

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Overview

Despite college rankings and countless beautiful college websites, most students and families know very little about the actual student experience at particular schools. College websites, campus tours and conversations with high school guidance counselors provide very limited information.

The Voice of the Student Survey compares the responses of over 7,500 liberal arts college undergraduates on more than 40 questions about college life. As a result, we learned what “real life” looks like at individual schools.

Some of the best (and worst) performers in our research are surprising. Some are among the U.S. News & World Report’s top ranked liberal arts colleges in the country, while others are ranked much lower but provide a successful student experience.

Our Liberal Arts Insider members know exactly how these colleges compare.

We surveyed thousands of liberal arts students to help you get the real scoop about the student experience… the good, the bad and the ugly.

Campus Community Coach & Safety Sherpa

How safe, accepted, and comfortable students feel on their college campus is one of the largest influencing factors as to how satisfied they feel with their college experience. Having a tight-knit college community is the cornerstone of a successful college experience, as proven by our Voice of the Students survey.

We can compare what the college brochures advertise to what students are actually experiencing; sometimes the admissions representatives have no idea how students on their campus really feel. This “Community” section is a way to find out exactly what students think about their campus, in their own words. Here, we have data about student satisfaction, housing, social cliques, and student’s sense of safety.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
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Academics Advisor

Without a doubt, academics are a major focus, if not the top priority, for many college students. Schools will often advertise their classrooms as collaborative, but we’ve found that students sometimes describe the academic environment as highly competitive. Are students helping each other with academic work or trying to get ahead? Do students spend every waking moment with their nose in a book?

We asked students both qualitative and quantitative questions to find out how the academics at this school challenge them, and contribute to their college experience. Find out directly from the students how they feel about academics, challenging or otherwise, at their school.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
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Social Life Navigator

In addition to academics, social life is integral to the campus experience, and it’s dictated by a few different elements. Do students feel discriminated against based on their identities? Where do students spend most of their time socializing? Do drugs and alcohol dominate the social scene? This is the kind of information that schools will NOT advertise.

So, to find truthful answers these to questions, we asked students for their perspectives. We looked into social aspects such as extracurricular involvement, opportunities in the local community, and alcohol/drug culture on this campus.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
Learn More

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