Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private nonprofit university in Hanover, NH ranked #48 nationally by EDsmart, earning an overall grade of A, enrolling about 4,541 undergraduates, and with an acceptance rate near 5.4%. Students most often pursue Computer Science and Economics.
Inside the classroom, students benefit from a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, 98.4% first-year retention, and 95.5% six-year graduation. Faculty pair challenging syllabi with intentional mentoring so learners keep momentum even as expectations rise.
Families typically invest $29,519, about $12,521 more than the national median. EDsmart calculates return on investment at -30.1%, roughly 115.4 points below typical outcomes. Six years after enrolling, alumni report median earnings of $82,541. That's about $38,853 higher than national results. Expect the strongest outcomes for ambitious students who thrive in an elite, research-powered setting and students looking for meaningful faculty access.
Who is Dartmouth College Best For?
A quick look at who tends to feel most at home here based on outcomes and campus context.
EDsmart Scores Summary
Dartmouth College graduates 95.5% of students within six years and keeps 98.4% of first-year students. Affordability earns a C- compared with similar schools.
How we calculate this →Cost & Financial Aid
Quick Answers
The costs shown are averages. Use Dartmouth College's net price calculator to get an estimate based on your family's financial situation.
Calculate Your Net Price →Total Degree Cost Summary
Annual Cost Comparison
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates.
View cost of attendance line items
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $68,268 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,005 |
| On-Campus Room and Board | $19,999 |
| On-Campus Other Expenses | $2,040 |
| Total On-Campus Cost | $87,793 |
Tip: focus on the rows that match your living plan—commuters can swap in off-campus estimates while residential students should budget for housing, meals, and incidental fees.
Students Receiving Aid
Use these bars to gauge how many classmates rely on need-based dollars—lower Pell or loan shares may signal a wealthier student body or generous institutional grants.
EDsmart Insight: About 14.3% of Dartmouth College students receive Pell Grants — below the national average, highlighting ongoing affordability priorities.
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual net price after financial aid, based on family income. Your actual cost may vary depending on your specific financial situation.
Understanding These Numbers: Net price varies significantly by income level. Low-income families pay less than $41 annually, while high-income families pay $52,036. Use Dartmouth College's net price calculator for a personalized estimate.
If your family earns $75K-$110K: Expect to pay around $8,534/year
If your family earns $110K+: Expect to pay around $52,036/year
See all income brackets →ROI & Career Outcomes
- 6-Year Median Earnings $82,541
- 10-Year Median Earnings $82,541
- Average Years to Graduate 4.5 years
- Average Student Debt $15,157
- Repayment Rate (3yr) 86.8%
- Employment Rate 67.8%
Graduate Earnings Distribution
Earnings range for Dartmouth College graduates 6 years after enrollment, showing the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. This illustrates the variation in outcomes across different majors and career paths.
Dartmouth College vs. National Average
Comparison of key performance metrics showing how Dartmouth College's outcomes compare to the national average across earnings, graduation rates, retention, ROI, and employment. This contextualizes Dartmouth College's performance within the broader higher education landscape.
EDsmart Insight: While Dartmouth College graduates earn $82,541 median, the -30.1% ROI suggests the investment may take longer to pay off. Consider your major choice and career goals when evaluating value.
Acceptance & Selectivity
Getting In
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading 740-780
- SAT Math 760-790
- SAT Writing Not reported
- ACT Composite 33-35
- SAT & ACT Required
- Undergraduate Enrollment 4,541
- Full-Time Students 95.0%
- Part-Time Students 5.0%
- Retention Rate 98.4%
- Graduation Rate 95.5%
- Student-Faculty Ratio 7:1
How to Get Into Dartmouth College
1. Meet Academic Requirements: Dartmouth College requires strong academic performance. Aim for test scores within the reported ranges and maintain a competitive GPA. Most admitted students rank in the top 10% of their high school class.
2. Build a Strong Application: Beyond test scores, focus on crafting compelling essays, securing strong letters of recommendation, and highlighting extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership and commitment.
3. Understand Selectivity: With an acceptance rate of 5.4%, Dartmouth College is extremely selective. Consider applying early decision if available, as early applicants often have higher acceptance rates.
4. Financial Planning: Review the net price calculator and financial aid options early. Many students receive significant aid, making the actual cost lower than the sticker price.
Tip: Contact the admissions office directly for the most current application requirements, deadlines, and any special programs (like early decision or early action) that might improve your chances.
EDsmart Insight: With a 5.4% acceptance rate, Dartmouth College is extremely selective. Most admitted students rank in the top 10% of their class. Consider applying early decision if available, as early applicants often have higher acceptance rates. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1500 and 1570 on the SAT.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Program Distribution
Breakdown of the most popular majors and fields of study among Dartmouth College undergraduates. Economics, Political Science and Government, and Engineering Science draw the most students.
- Economics 13.3%
- Political Science and Government 10.3%
- Engineering Science 8.2%
- Computer Science 7.9%
- Research and Experimental Psychology 5.0%
- Biology, General 4.2%
See more majors
- Anthropology 4.2%
- History 4.0%
Highest Earning Programs
Median earnings five years after graduation for each program. These figures help illustrate ROI by field of study and degree level.
Undergraduate Programs (Bachelor's Degrees)
- 1. Computer Science $192,848
- 2. Economics $153,295
- 3. Engineering, General $120,347
Show additional high-earning majors
- 4. Mathematics $108,255
- 5. Mathematics and Statistics, Other $102,938
- 6. Political Science and Government $101,103
- 7. Engineering Science $99,468
- 8. History $95,866
- 9. Area Studies $91,237
- 10. English Language and Literature, General $90,619
Graduate Programs (Master's, Doctoral, Professional)
- 1. Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) $244,019
- 2. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degree) $207,886
- 3. Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degree) $188,513
Show additional graduate majors
- 4. Public Health (First Professional Degree) $117,455
- 5. Medicine (First Professional Degree) $116,713
Program Choice Matters: Undergraduate: Computer Science grads earn $192,848—113% more than English Language and Literature, General ($90,619). Graduate: Business Administration, Management and Operations programs lead with $244,019 median earnings. Your program and degree level choice significantly impact career earnings.
Online Degrees & Distance Learning
College Scorecard reports fully online programs for Dartmouth College. Below are the most popular options based on the number of recent graduates, followed by a quick look at the breadth of online offerings by degree level.
Source: U.S. Department of Education – College Scorecard
Most Popular Online Degrees
- Economics (Bachelor's Degree, 166 graduates)
- Engineering, General (Master's Degree, 165 graduates)
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree, 150 graduates)
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degree, 139 graduates)
- Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degree, 129 graduates)
What This School Offers Online, at a Glance
College Scorecard flags the following online degree and certificate programs for this institution. Expand each credential level to view the complete list of available subjects.
Online Bachelor's Degrees (50 programs)▼
- Economics
- Political Science and Government
- Engineering Science
- Computer Science
- Research and Experimental Psychology
- Biology, General
- Anthropology
- History
- Mathematics
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
- Area Studies
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Mathematics and Statistics, Other
- Sociology
- English Language and Literature, General
- Geography and Cartography
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
- Chemistry
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Cognitive Science
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Music
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
- Classical and Ancient Studies
- Religion/Religious Studies
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Statistics
- Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Engineering Physics
- East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
- Psychology, General
- Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Social Sciences, Other
- Data Science
- Applied Statistics
Online Master's Degrees (26 programs)▼
- Engineering, General
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
- Public Health
- Health and Medical Administrative Services
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Biological and Physical Sciences
- Computer Science
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
- Mathematics
- Engineering Science
- Chemistry
- Music
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
- Psychology, General
- Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
- Physics
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
- Genetics
- Engineering-Related Fields
- Engineering, Other
- Biology, General
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Online Doctoral Degrees (17 programs)▼
- Engineering Science
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
- Computer Science
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
- Mathematics
- Biology, General
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Physics
- Genetics
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
- Chemistry
- Biological and Physical Sciences
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
- Psychology, General
- Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
Online First Professional Degrees (1 program)▼
- Medicine
Student Demographics
Student Population
- Total Undergraduate Enrollment 4,541
- Full-Time Students 95.0%
- Part-Time Students 5.0%
- Male Students 51.8%
- Female Students 48.2%
- Caucasian 44.0%
- Asian 13.1%
- Hispanic 9.9%
- Black 6.2%
- Pell Grant Recipients 14.3%
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
Undergraduate student body composition by racial and ethnic background. This reflects Dartmouth College's commitment to diversity and inclusion in admissions.
Gender Distribution
Gender breakdown of Dartmouth College's undergraduate population. The university maintains a roughly balanced gender distribution across its student body.
Graduation Rate Equity Analysis
How well does Dartmouth College support students from different economic backgrounds?
What this means: Lower-income students (Pell Grant recipients) graduate at nearly the same rate as higher-income students, indicating strong institutional support for all economic backgrounds.
Compare graduation rates by race/ethnicity
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Six-year graduation rates for different demographic groups at Dartmouth College, compared to national averages. This shows whether the institution supports all students equitably.
EDsmart Insight: Dartmouth College has a diverse student body, with 44.0% identifying as White. About 14.3% receive Pell Grants, below the national average of 38%, suggesting a wealthier student body or generous institutional aid.
Graduation Rate Equity Analysis
How well does Dartmouth College support students from different economic backgrounds?
What this means: Lower-income students (Pell Grant recipients) graduate at nearly the same rate as higher-income students, indicating strong institutional support for all economic backgrounds.
Compare graduation rates by race/ethnicity
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Six-year graduation rates for different demographic groups at Dartmouth College, compared to national averages. This shows whether the institution supports all students equitably.
Our Take
Ranking #48 nationally, Dartmouth College combines competitive admissions with -30.1% ROI, positioning itself among America's stronger universities. The institution balances academic rigor with $82,541 in median post-graduation earnings.
Students complete degrees at 95.5% six-year rates, with 98.4% retention reflecting solid satisfaction. The $29,519 annual net price falls in the moderate range, though 541 institutions deliver comparable outcomes at lower costs.
Competitive Selective University: Dartmouth College's Market Position
A grade | #48 of 1942 | 97.6/100 on EDsmart's national index (0–100 vs. all ranked schools; not a raw point total)
Competitive Positioning: Dartmouth College occupies the competitive selective tier—not elite enough for automatic career advantages, but strong enough to provide quality education and reasonable outcomes. The -30.1% ROI reflects this middle ground: better than most, but not top-tier.
Value for Money: $29,519 annually produces $82,541 median earnings—a reasonable but not exceptional return. Students choosing Dartmouth College should evaluate whether the institution's specific programs, location, or campus culture justify costs versus higher-ROI alternatives.
Who Succeeds Here: Self-directed students who maximize campus resources (research, internships, networking) achieve outcomes rivaling higher-ranked schools. Students seeking specific programs or geographic locations find strong value. Those needing extensive hand-holding may struggle in larger university environments.
Final Assessment: Dartmouth College's #48 ranking and A grade reflect solid performance across metrics. With 541 schools offering better ROI, value-focused students should compare carefully. However, for students who fit the institution's culture and programs, outcomes justify investment.
Key Takeaways
- 95.5% six-year graduation rate sits 33.0 points above the national 62.5% benchmark.
- 98.4% first-year retention is 21.6 points above the national norm of 76.8%.
- -30.1% return on investment is 115.4 points below the national 85.3% benchmark.
- Median earnings of $82,541 run about 89% higher than national outcomes six years after enrollment.
- Average net price of $29,519 is roughly $9,502 higher than the national median of $20,018.
Helpfulness for Students
- 7:1 student-faculty ratio keeps mentorship close and courses discussion-sized.
- 98.4% first-year retention shows students stay engaged after the first year.
- 67.8% employment rate within three years sits 0.4 points below national outcomes.
- Average net price of $29,519 is about $9,502 higher than comparable schools, so scholarship planning is key.
- Pell participation at 14.3% trails the national share by 19.9 points, so equity work remains important.
- Compare aid offers from nearby public universities to weigh the premium for smaller classes.
EDsmart Expert Analysis
EDsmart rates Dartmouth College—a private nonprofit university in Hanover, NH—at A overall. It holds a #48 national ranking Grades by category break down as Completion A+, Support A, Career Outcomes A, and Affordability C-.
Grades are assigned relative to EDsmart's national bachelor's cohort using standardized outcomes (2026 methodology); they reflect how a school compares to peers, not a fixed percentage of a raw point total.
Student momentum is strong: 98.4% retention and 95.5% six-year graduation. The reported ROI is -30.1%, a figure families can weigh against cost and aid details above.
Why it matters: this snapshot shows how likely you are to stay on track academically and whether the outcomes justify the price tag. Letter grades summarize cohort-relative performance—not a single exam-style score.
EDsmart Financial Snapshot
Families pay about $29,519 on average after aid, compared with a published cost near $87,793.
Institutional and federal aid lower costs by roughly $58,274 per year.
Graduates leave with a median of $15,157 in federal loans, which lines up with national norms.
About 14.3% of students receive Pell Grants, giving a snapshot of the campus income mix.
Why it matters: lining up sticker price, aid, and typical debt helps you stress-test the budget before you commit.
EDsmart Career Snapshot
Graduates report median earnings of about $82,541 six years after entry. This is roughly 89% above typical U.S. college outcomes.
Roughly 67.8% of graduates are employed three years out.
Plan around an ROI of about -30.1% according to the Scorecard data.
Why it matters: pairing median earnings with employment rates gives you a sense of payback time after graduation.
EDsmart Admissions Snapshot
5.4% of applicants receive offers, so preparation and fit matter.
The admissions team encourages students to highlight academic strengths through transcripts, essays, and recommendations.
Prospective students can apply early for priority review and lean on the Dartmouth College admissions site for deadlines, visit options, and counselor contacts.
Why it matters: knowing the admit rate and application expectations lets you map out testing, essays, and deadlines with less stress.
Your Decision Toolkit
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Contact Information
- Address Hanover, NH 03755-3529
- Website dartmouth.edu
- Net Price Calculator Calculate Your Cost
- Financial AidView Financial Aid Information
- AccreditationNew England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
- Endowment$7.93B