Cost of Attendance
Explore Davidson's total cost of attendance and find important information about estimating your costs and paying your bill.
Although the figures below show the full, annual costs for students attending Davidson College without financial aid, we recommend that you estimate your personal costs using the Net Price Calculator. In just 10-20 minutes, you'll have an estimate of your level of aid—and your personalized cost—for attending Davidson. Explore how we award need-based aid and get help in determining the annual out-of-pocket costs you may incur. We are eager to work with you to develop a financial aid package that can make Davidson affordable for you and your family.
2024-2025 Academic Year Cost of Attendance
First-Year Domestic Student | First-Year International Student | |
Tuition | $63,580 | $63,580 |
Required Fees | $580 | $580 |
Orientation Fee | $250 | $250 |
Housing | $8,450 | $8,450 |
Food | $8,650 | $8,650 |
Total Billed Costs | $81,510 | $81,510 |
Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment | $825 | $825 |
Transportation | $200-600 | $1,000 |
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $1,325 | $1,325 |
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance (without college's health insurance) |
$83,860 - $84,260 | $84,660 |
Health Insurance | $2,525 | $2,525 |
Returning Domestic Student | Returning International Student | |
Tuition | $63,580 | $63,580 |
Required Fees | $580 | $580 |
Housing | $9,016 | $9,016 |
Food | $8,650 | $8,650 |
Total Billed Costs | $81,826 | $81,826 |
Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment | $825 | $825 |
Transportation | $200-600 | $100 |
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $1,325 | $1,325 |
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance (without college's health insurance) |
$84,176 - $84,576 | $84,076 |
Health Insurance | $2,525 | $2,525 |
Student Living with Family | |
Tuition | $63,580 |
Required Fees | $580 |
Orientation Fee* | $0 |
Total Billed Costs | $64,160 |
Housing | $1,080 |
Food | $1,600 |
Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment | $825 |
Transportation | $600 |
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $1,325 |
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance (without college's health insurance) |
$69,590 |
Health Insurance | $2,525 |
*Assuming student is a returning student who will not participate in Orientation and therefore bypass the $250 Orientation Fee.
2023-2024 Academic Year Cost of Attendance
- Required student charges (tuition, student activity fee) $60,050; student activity fee covers student publications, student government, and social and cultural activities
- Standard Double Room (fees vary by room type) $8,200
- Meals, All Access Plan (other plans available) $8,200, includes N.C. Board Tax
- Total: $76,450
What Is Included in the Cost of Attendance?
A Cost of Attendance (COA) is based on estimated student expenses that assume full-time attendance for two semesters, fall and spring. For students receiving financial aid, the COA is used to prepare a financial aid budget and includes the following expense categories:
Tuition | Tuition is based on full-time enrollment for the fall and spring semesters. |
Required Fees | All students pay a flat "student activities" fee that covers social and cultural activities, including; student government and student publications, a mailbox at the Post & Print Center and routine medical care at the Center for Student Health and Well-Being. |
Orientation Fee | New students are required to pay an Orientation fee. The Orientation fee is charged only in a student's first semester of enrollment and covers the orientation period in which all first-time students participate. |
Housing & Food |
Living on campus? Since first-time students are typically placed in double-occupancy rooms, that's the housing cost reflected in a first-year student's COA. For returning students, who have additional housing options, we include in the COA the weighted average of the cost of all possible on-campus housing choices. Your actual charges will vary based on the type of on-campus housing you select. Beginning with the Class of 2028, all students living on campus are billed for the 21-meal-per-week All Access Plan, including the North Carolina Food Tax; so that's the food cost reflected in the COA for all on-campus students. Living off campus? Students living off-campus on their own or with other students have the same housing allowance as on-campus students, because the weighted average of on-campus housing costs is generally in line with the cost of off-campus options. An off-campus student's actual charges for housing will vary based on the specific housing selected. The off-campus allowance for food is the same as the on-campus allowance. Living with family and commuting? Students living in the local area with family will have a more modest allowance for housing than other off-campus students. This is based on the presumption that they will not pay rent, yet their families may incur some additional utility costs while the students are living at home. The allowance for food is also more modest than that for other off-campus students, as it covers only the cost of lunch on campus 5 days a week, while school is in session, plus an allowance toward the projected increase in a typical family's grocery bill when covering the cost of the student's other meals during the academic year. |
Books, Course Materials, Supplies & Equipment |
This allowance covers the purchase (or rental) of new or used textbooks, notebooks, paper, pens and pencils, periodical subscriptions, and any other materials or equipment required for a student’s coursework. This figure is an estimate, based on student spending in the campus bookstore. Actual costs will vary by program, course load and selected classes. You can reduce your costs by comparing prices, buying used books, renting books, or using the college's library and reserve book system. |
Transportation |
The cost of getting to and from campus for the school year will vary based on where you live and how frequently you choose to return home during the school year. Davidson's transportation allowances for domestic students are based on one round trip per semester. The total transportation estimate for domestic students who live in North Carolina or in a neighboring state is $200. Domestic students who live outside of those states are estimated to spend $600. The travel cost estimate for new international students is $1,000 (to account for the cost of the initial travel to campus) and for returning international students is $100 (to cover local transportation while enrolled at Davidson). For all students, saving money in other expense categories can "free up" money to support additional trips home, if desired. |
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses |
This category includes other student expenses such as laundry, personal care products, prescriptions, cell phone service, clothing and entertainment. This is the most variable part of a student's budget, and students often have more choice about their spending in this category. As with the other expense categories, as well, we recommend students set an allowance, track expenses, and stick to their budgets, to ensure their available funds will last all year. |
Health Insurance |
Each Davidson student must have medical insurance, either through a private insurance company plan or the insurance package offered through the college. |
Cost of Attendance Adjustments
When needed, students may complete a Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment Form (available on our Financial Aid Forms page), and supply relevant documentation, to request that their COA be increased to reflect allowable expenses that are not included in Davidson’s usual COA.
Costs might include technology purchases; disability-related expenses; dependent care; or the cost of a license, certification, or first professional credential required for a student’s academic program. Such additional costs are typically covered by an Outside Resource or a student or parent loan. For more information, please visit our web page on Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustments.
Learn how to access account information, grant parents or other bill payers (proxy) access, make payments, and more. Tuition and fees are posted in July for the fall semester and in November for the spring semester. Accounts are updated daily to reflect payment and any additional charges.
We understand that being part of a residential community like Davidson can be an expensive experience, so we’re humbled to be able to offer many great services for students of any background as they make their transition from high school to college and beyond.