Is Davidson or Wellesley harder to get into?

Davidson is harder to get into than Wellesley. Davidson's 13.4% acceptance rate is lower than Wellesley's 14.1%.

Which is cheaper, Davidson or Wellesley?

Davidson costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Davidson's average net price is $17,379 vs $25,496 at Wellesley.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Davidson or Wellesley?

Wellesley graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $81,400 at Davidson and $84,803 at Wellesley.

Davidson vs. Wellesley: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Davidson	Wellesley
Acceptance rate	13.4%	14.1%
SAT mid-50%	1400–1530	1460–1560
ACT mid-50%	31–34	33–35
Cost of attendance	$79,475	$86,290
Avg net price (after aid)	$17,379	$25,496
Undergrad enrollment	1,867	2,300
6-yr graduation rate	91.1%	91.5%
Median earnings (10yr)	$81,400	$84,803
Setting	Davidson, North Carolina	Wellesley, Massachusetts

The Real Differences

Selectivity is essentially the same. Davidson's 13.4% acceptance rate and Wellesley's 14.1% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.

Wellesley draws stronger test scores. Mid-50% SAT range tops out at 1560 vs 1530 at the other school. Differences in test profile usually reflect a school's STEM-vs-humanities mix and the self-selection of applicants, not raw academic quality.

Davidson is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $8,117 per year, $32,468 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Davidson is in Davidson, North Carolina; Wellesley is in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Davidson is 53.0% women, 10.7% international, and 5.3% Asian-American. Wellesley is 99.9% women, 13.4% international, and 25.7% Asian-American.

Demographic	Davidson	Wellesley
Women	53.0%	99.9%
International	10.7%	13.4%
White	60.4%	29.8%
Asian	5.3%	25.7%
Hispanic	11.1%	14.4%
Black	6.9%	8.4%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Davidson vs. Wellesley?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick Davidson if

Net price matters: Davidson costs $8,117 less per year on average
its Honor Code

Pick Wellesley if

Your odds are realistic at Wellesley (slightly easier admit)
Higher median post-grad earnings ($84,803 vs $81,400)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
cross-registration with MIT

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Davidson College

13.4% accept · Davidson, North Carolina

Full profile

Wellesley College

14.1% accept · Wellesley, Massachusetts

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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