Davis & Elkins College

About Davis & Elkins College

Davis & Elkins College is an independent, degree-granting institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college identifies itself as private and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), while welcoming students without regard to religion. Its institutional identity combines liberal arts with professional studies and emphasizes experiential work such as internships, practica, field research, service and travel. The college traces its establishment to Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen Benton Elkins, whose support helped create a college and academy associated with the Presbyterian Church. First classes were held in 1904. The institution moved to its present site in 1926, incorporating the historic Halliehurst estate; it later acquired Graceland, another historic property that now also supports hospitality education. The official history describes a 180-acre campus with 23 major buildings. This is a small residential-college environment rather than a large research university. Prospective students can expect academic and social life to overlap substantially, with residence halls, classrooms, athletics and community activities concentrated on one campus. The institution’s religious affiliation informs its stated values, including human dignity, social responsibility and engagement across intellectual, social and spiritual life, but its academic courses and admission are not limited to Presbyterian students. The Higher Learning Commission approved additional graduate offerings in 2025 and 2026, providing recent evidence that the college remains operational and is expanding at the master’s level.

Davis & Elkins reviews applications on a rolling basis and says domestic applicants do not have a fixed application deadline. Early submission is encouraged for financial-aid consideration and course selection. Traditional first-year applicants are normally expected to present at least a 2.5 cumulative high-school GPA and 14 college-preparatory units: four in English, three in mathematics, three in science including one laboratory science, and four in social studies, social sciences or academic electives. Applicants below the stated GPA may be asked to interview. The college currently describes first-year review as test-optional when it can reach a decision without SAT or ACT scores. Transfer status requires at least 12 college credits, excluding dual-enrollment credit earned in high school. The published transfer benchmark is a 2.5 college GPA; applicants below it must schedule an admission interview. A final official high-school transcript is also required. International applicants use the free online application and submit official secondary-school records, plus college transcripts if transferring. Records not in English require translation and evaluation through the college’s designated partner. Applicants from English-speaking countries are currently test-optional. Other international applicants must submit an official English-proficiency result. The current international page lists minimums of TOEFL 500 paper or 63 internet-based, IELTS 5.0, PTE Academic 45 or Duolingo 85. Visa applicants should also expect financial-document and immigration steps. Because the admissions-standards and international pages contain some differing details, international applicants should follow the dedicated international page and confirm requirements directly before submitting.

Davis & Elkins offers associate and bachelor’s programs across the arts and sciences, pre-professional preparation and career-oriented fields. Its current program list includes accounting, biology, chemistry, criminology, education, environmental science, finance, hospitality and tourism management, nursing, psychology and human services, sport management, sustainability studies, theatre and film, and several other subjects. Nursing pathways include associate and bachelor’s options, an accelerated bachelor’s route, an LPN-to-ASN pathway and an online RN-to-BSN completion program. Applicants should check the delivery format and professional-licensure requirements for the specific nursing route they are considering. At the graduate level, the official majors page lists a Master of Science in Sport Management. Higher Learning Commission actions also record approval of a sport-management master’s program in 2025 and a Master of Arts offering in 2026. Because program availability can change as new approvals are implemented, graduate applicants should confirm the intended start term and current curriculum directly with the college. Students seeking flexibility may propose an interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree by defining and justifying a coherent program with faculty support and committee approval. The college also offers pre-professional advising in areas including medicine, dentistry, law, pharmacy, physical therapy, veterinary study and ministry; these are preparatory tracks rather than separate professional degrees. The academic model emphasizes applied learning. Official materials describe internships, practica, service projects, field research, travel and study abroad as important parts of the educational approach. The Honors Program adds opportunities to examine vocational goals and develop critical-thinking skills. Students comparing programs should review the latest catalog for required courses, sequencing, accreditation and whether a major can be completed within their preferred timeline.

Key Highlights

• Private college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)
• Founded in 1904 and located on a 180-acre campus
• Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Recent HLC actions approved additional master’s-level programs

Student Life & Environment

Davis & Elkins describes itself as a residential institution, and campus housing is central to its student-life model. Students generally must live on campus unless they meet an exemption, such as living with parents, being married, having children, requiring unavailable disability-related facilities or qualifying as an independent student over age 23. Applicants should obtain a current housing determination rather than assume that off-campus living is permitted. Everyday campus facilities include dining in the Madden Student Center, cafés, Booth Library, the Robbins-Madden Fitness Center, arts and performance spaces, and Robbins Memorial Chapel. The college’s Presbyterian connection is visible in spiritual-life and service opportunities, while campus participation is open to students from varied backgrounds. Student organizations, events, recreation and community service provide alternatives to varsity sport. The Senators compete in NCAA Division II athletics. This can give intercollegiate sport a visible role in a comparatively small campus community, but applicants interested in a team should verify current rosters, recruitment standards and scholarship arrangements with the relevant coach and financial-aid office. The surrounding mountain environment shapes extracurricular life. The college highlights access to hiking, cycling, paddling, skiing, rafting, caving and other outdoor activities. Students who prefer a dense urban social scene may find the setting limited; those looking for a compact community, campus-based events and outdoor recreation may find the environment a better fit.

Location & Surroundings

The college is at 100 Campus Drive in Elkins, a small city in Randolph County, West Virginia. Elkins has an arts-oriented downtown with independent shops, restaurants, a farmers’ market and community events. The campus and city share a connected history, and the town functions as the immediate commercial and cultural setting for students rather than as a separate metropolitan center. The campus borders the Monongahela National Forest and sits in the Allegheny Highlands. Nearby regional destinations highlighted by the college include Dolly Sods Wilderness, Seneca Rocks, caves, rivers and state or federal recreation lands. A rail trail passes near campus and extends through town and into the surrounding countryside. These features support field-based environmental study and activities such as hiking, cycling, skiing and paddling. The tradeoff is accessibility. Elkins offers a quieter, small-town setting, but students should plan carefully for travel to and from campus, especially if arriving by air or without a car. International and out-of-state applicants should ask the college about current arrival transportation and shuttle arrangements before booking travel. Seasonal mountain weather may also affect transportation and outdoor plans.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For the 2026–2027 academic year, Davis & Elkins publishes full-time tuition of $31,860, fees of $1,050 and standard room and board of $11,250, producing a stated total of $44,160. The housing figure assumes double occupancy. Single rooms, Glory Residence Hall, the Byrd Center and off-campus houses use different rates. Students taking fewer than 12 credits are charged $1,327 per credit; the full-time base covers 12 to 18 credits, with an additional per-credit charge above 18. These are published charges, not an individualized net price. Applicants should budget beyond the headline total for books and supplies, transportation, loan fees, personal expenses and any program-specific costs. Financial aid may reduce the amount paid, but prospective students should compare formal aid offers and calculate borrowing over the entire degree. International students should ask which institutional grants are available to them and whether health insurance, travel and visa-related costs are additional. Career Services supports students through a staged process of self-assessment, career exploration, preparation and transition after graduation. Services include help with résumés and cover letters, interviews, networking and internship preparation, plus opportunities to connect with employers. The college also integrates internships and practica into several academic areas. No institution-wide salary or employment outcome is presented here because a current, independently verifiable figure was not found in the selected sources; students should request program-level placement, licensure and graduate-school outcomes for the major they are considering.