Diversity & Access
We welcome you.
Differences are grounds for exploration. Not only do our students accept differences—they are driven to explore them. Students have the opportunity to live with, learn from, and share experiences with students of different backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives.
This work begins with the Office of Admission and Financial Aid, where we strive to enrich our community by attracting and supporting students of diverse backgrounds and perspectives through their college search and application process.
Access 51¹ÙÍø
Access 51¹ÙÍø is a selective college visit program designed for high school seniors from historically excluded racial and ethnic groups, those who are first in their family to attend college, and students from rural or low-income backgrounds. This year's programming will be held on campus.
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
We value the work community-based organizations engage in to support students through their college search and application process. We are committed to supporting the efforts of our CBO counseling partners throughout the year, whether through virtual visits or while on the road. If you are a counselor with a CBO, we encourage you to connect with your regional admission counselor.
51¹ÙÍø students reflect on their decision to come to 51¹ÙÍø, ways they've gotten involved with disability advocacy on campus, resources that support their experience and advice for prospective students with disabilities going through the college process.
Applying to 51¹ÙÍø
For students utilizing the QuestBridge application or those attending high school outside of the United States and Puerto Rico, there is no application fee.
For domestic students, if the application fee poses a financial hardship, please contact us at admission@davidson.edu to request a fee waiver.
Requesting a fee waiver does not disadvantage your application for admission in any way.
During the week of October 21-27, 2024, North Carolina residents may submit the Common Application to 51¹ÙÍø for free.
Students may obtain the waiver by choosing "North Carolina College Application Week" on the dropdown menu of school-specific fee waivers on the Common Application. Please contact us at admission@davidson.edu with questions and to learn more about the NC Countdown to College.
We encourage interested students to apply for admission regardless of their immigration status. At 51¹ÙÍø, undocumented students are considered domestic applicants. Please contact Marlene Arellano, Associate Director & Director of Diversity and Inclusion, at maarellano@davidson.edu with questions about the admission and financial aid process.
Through a three-part dynamic assessment process, our staff partners with the Posse Foundation to select two cohorts of Scholars—called Posses—every fall. This year, 51¹ÙÍø will be recruiting Posses from Miami and from across the country through the Virtual Posse program
As a proud QuestBridge partner institution, every year we admit and enroll high-achieving low-income students through the National College Match program and QuestBridge Regular Decision.