Davidson College offers a BA in Psychology built around American Psychological Association guidelines for undergraduate programs. The college is accredited by SACSCOC and located in Davidson, North Carolina. It enrolls about 1,870 students and runs a need-based financial aid model that eliminates loan debt for qualifying students.
Davidson College was founded in 1837 in Davidson, North Carolina, and named for Revolutionary War commander William Lee Davidson. The private liberal arts college enrolls about 1,870 students and operates under an Honor Code that governs academic life across all coursework, including self-scheduled finals and take-home exams. It ranks among the most selective liberal arts colleges in the country and has produced 23 Rhodes Scholars.
Accreditation Details
Davidson College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Regional accreditation confirms that the college meets SACSCOC’s standards for academic quality, governance, and institutional effectiveness. It also determines eligibility for federal financial aid and affects the transferability of credits to other institutions.
Application Requirements
First-year students may apply through the Common Application or the Coalition Application, both of which require a writing supplement. The full package includes a secondary school report, a mid-year school report, two academic teacher recommendations, a peer recommendation, and official high school transcripts. Davidson has a test-optional admissions policy. SAT and ACT scores are not required, but are considered if submitted.
Transfer applicants use the Common Application and must submit official transcripts from all colleges attended, two academic evaluations, a transfer college report, and high school transcripts. SAT or ACT scores are not required for transfer applicants either. Transferred courses must align with Davidson’s academic objectives, and students must have earned a C or better in each transferred course.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees at Davidson College are $69,065 for the 2025–26 academic year. A $250 orientation fee applies to first-year students and transfers, billed in the fall semester. Full cost of attendance details are available on Davidson’s Cost of Attendance page.
Davidson’s financial aid model is built around the Davidson Trust, which meets 100 percent of each qualifying student’s calculated financial need without including student loans in the aid package. All need-based assistance comes through grants or student employment. Students must complete the FAFSA to be considered. About 55 percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and 67 percent of enrolled undergraduates receive some form of grant or scholarship assistance.
Psychology Programs at Davidson College
Psychology
Davidson’s psychology major aligns with the American Psychological Association’s guidelines for undergraduate psychology programs. The college awards a BA in Psychology. The curriculum covers research methods, cognitive and physiological processes underlying behavior, subfields within psychology, and philosophical and ethical issues in the field. Students gain hands-on experience through laboratory coursework, field research, and internship placements. The department also maintains active research labs, a department-funded Summer Research Fellowship, and the Davidson-Broughton Program, which connects students with clinical internship opportunities.
Students planning to apply to graduate or doctoral programs should consider the senior thesis option as part of the capstone requirement. The thesis is an empirical research project conducted under faculty supervision, culminating in an APA-format manuscript and an oral presentation to a faculty committee. Students also present their work as a poster at Davidson’s annual Miller-Case Symposium for Research and Creative Works. The thesis is recommended for anyone considering a PhD, PsyD, EdD, or research-focused master’s program. For students still weighing options, see our guide to careers available with a psychology bachelor’s degree.
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