Davidson College announces free tuition for families earning up to $175,000

Davidson College launched a new cost structure ranging from free to low-cost tuition. 

The structure will apply to students entering in the fall of 2027. Established students will benefit from the current financial aid policies. 

The cost levels are based on a family's adjusted gross income, including real estate and stocks. There are three tiers of assistance:

Students whose total family income is $85,000 or less will receive a full scholarship for tuition, fees, housing and meals. 

Students whose total family income is between $85,000 and $175,000 will attend tuition-free.

Students with a family income greater than $175,000 will receive aid packages to help with the cost of attendance. 

Davidson College President Doug Hicks said, "Our financial aid is extraordinary and rare. It is a foundational commitment of the college to make the Davidson experience achievable, accessible and affordable."

Davidson's financial aid structure is grant-based. Students work jobs on campus instead of taking out loans. The total cost of a first-year student living on-campus at Davidson is $93,000. The average current student financial aid package is $66,000.