For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Davis & Elkins College #1196 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Davis & Elkins College in the 71.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment are $51,173, placing Davis & Elkins College in the 11.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Davis & Elkins College #1196 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's college in Elkins, West Virginia, Davis & Elkins College enrolls roughly 661 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 65.2% freshman retention rate and a 39.3% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Davis & Elkins College performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Davis & Elkins College #696 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Davis & Elkins College in the 71.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio, anchored in Business, aligns with stable career pathways that support long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Davis & Elkins College sits in the 24.5 percentile for access and the 53.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a smaller private institution, Davis & Elkins College enrolls 43.3% Pell-eligible students and 47.8% first-generation undergraduates. The college's positioning reflects the economics of private higher education: a higher sticker price reshaped by institutional aid for families that qualify, paired with a more selective admissions environment that limits broad access. For admitted students, Davis & Elkins College offers need-based financial aid designed to make attendance feasible across income levels.
Published cost of attendance is $44,888. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $15,999, middle-income families pay around $15,690, higher-income families pay approximately $22,496. Azimuth ranks Davis & Elkins College #670 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 53.0 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,050. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,173, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Davis & Elkins College is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a small private college experience in WV. The college's program mix leans heavily toward Business, representing 21% of graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,173, placing Davis & Elkins College in the 11.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $3,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 71.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college enrolls 43.3% of undergraduates who receive Pell Grants and 47.8% who are first-generation students. Published cost of attendance is $44,888 with need-based aid available to help bridge the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 94.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business over other fields. Students whose interests align with these areas will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Davis & Elkins College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $44,888. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $15,999, middle-income families pay around $15,690, higher-income families pay approximately $22,496.
Azimuth ranks Davis & Elkins College #670 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 53.0 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,050.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,173, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Davis & Elkins College earn median 4-year earnings of $51,173, placing Davis & Elkins College in the 11.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 71.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Davis & Elkins College #696 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 15 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $105,127. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 12 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $58,140.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beloit College Similar quality tier (#31674 ranked) | WI | 63% | $53,260 | #31674 | Compare |
Texas Lutheran University Similar quality tier (#31679 ranked) | TX | 96% | $53,863 | #31679 | Compare |
Life Pacific University Similar quality tier (#31681 ranked) | CA | 96% | $43,299 | #31681 | Compare |
Quincy University Similar quality tier (#31683 ranked) | IL | 51% | $50,369 | #31683 | Compare |
Allen University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#31670 ranked) | SC | 73% | $30,497 | #31670 | Compare |
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
15 graduates
Business Administration and Management, General
12 graduates
Davis & Elkins College's program mix centers on business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional positioning as a comprehensive private college. Kinesiology is the largest program with 17 graduates, followed by Nursing with 15 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $105,127, Psychology, General with 13 graduates, Criminology with 12 graduates, and Business Administration with 12 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $58,140.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 98 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in applied business and professional pathways. The highest-earning programs at Davis & Elkins College lead with Nursing, where 15 graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $105,127, followed by Business Administration with 12 graduates earning $58,140.
These programs represent the institution's most direct pathways to strong early-career financial outcomes among the student body. The concentration of enrollment in Business reflects Davis & Elkins College's focus on fields with immediate labor-market application and employer demand in regional markets.
Davis & Elkins College's program portfolio emphasizes applied professional preparation over research-intensive or grad-school-dependent pathways. Graduates in the institution's largest and highest-earning programs enter the workforce directly, where four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes rather than undercount from graduate-school continuation.
For context on how these fields align with national labor-market demand, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
