Despite its classification as a liberal arts college, Davidson prides itself on being a leader in undergraduate research. Small class sizes mean its 2,000 students can conduct research alongside professors, and a grant-funded initiative gives them the opportunity to design a research project, work with a faculty mentor and publish their findings.
The school — located in Davidson, North Carolina, about 20 miles from Charlotte — offers about 75 majors, minors or pre-professional programs ranging from degrees in Arab studies to global literary theory to pre-medicine and even pre-ministry.
Davidson stands out with a strong graduation rate; 93% of students finish their program within six years. It was also one of the first liberal arts colleges to commit to meeting all of the demonstrated financial needs of students through a combination of grants and campus jobs. Davidson’s financial aid packages don’t include loans, though students may choose to take them out.
After graduation, students go on to relatively high-paying jobs, with typical early-career earnings coming in at nearly $77,400, according to the College Scorecard.
As for extracurriculars, the college has more than 200 clubs and organizations, including four a cappella groups: the Generals, the Delilahs, Androgyny and the Nuances.
For a small school, Davidson offers a large variety of athletics, too, with 21 NCAA Division I teams. It may not be considered a powerhouse, but the college just completed a $55-million renovation of its football stadium and has a small-but-mighty list of athletic alumni who went on to play professionally, including NBA star Steph Curry.
