Dartmouth College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Hanover, New Hampshire · Private nonprofit · Most selective · CDS 2025-2026
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Dartmouth College is a private nonprofit university in Hanover, New Hampshire that admits about 6% of applicants, making it a most selective school. The average family pays about $29,519 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Economics, Political Science and Government and Computer Science, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 95% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 25.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Dartmouth College is a private institution located in Hanover, New Hampshire and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Dartmouth College admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 6%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1520 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $29,519 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about Dartmouth College right now
Dartmouth College accepted 1,702 students for the Class of 2029, an overall admit rate of 6%, slightly higher than the prior year's record-low 5.3%. Applications dropped about 11% to 28,230. Early Decision continues to be a substantial advantage in the funnel. Roughly 96% of admitted students rank in the top 10% of their high school class, and 15% live in rural areas. A record 22% of admitted U.S. citizens and permanent residents qualify for Pell Grants. Dartmouth offered more than $52.6 million in need-based scholarships to the class, with an average award of $70,607, and 27% will attend tuition-free. Parents should note Dartmouth's distinctive financial aid: the college meets 100% of demonstrated need need-blind for all admitted students, including international applicants, and a March 2024 estate gift of more than $150 million from Glenn Britt now enables middle-income students to attend tuition-free. Dartmouth was also the first Ivy League institution to reinstate standardized testing requirements after the pandemic, beginning with the Class of 2029 cycle. The college is the smallest Ivy at roughly 6,746 total students, with 4,447 undergraduates, and runs on the distinctive D-Plan quarter system that allows flexible study and off-campus terms. President Sian Beilock, the college's first female president, took office in June 2023, and in April 2024 Dartmouth committed $500 million toward carbon neutrality by 2050.
What GPA does my child need for Dartmouth College?
Successful applicants to Dartmouth College typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.
What does Dartmouth College weight in admissions?
Dartmouth College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Talent/ability
SAT and ACT scores Dartmouth College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 760–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 740. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1440 |
| 50th percentile | 1520 |
| 75th percentile | 1550 |
| % submitting SAT | 69% |
| 25th percentile | 32 |
| 50th percentile | 34 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 33% |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • Policy detail: Required
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 96% |
| Top 25% of class | 99% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 44% |
How much does Dartmouth College actually cost?
Published tuition is $68,268 for in-state students and $68,268 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,999 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $29,519 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Out-of-state tuition | $69,207 |
| Room and board | $20,920 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $29,519 |
| Application fee | — (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Dartmouth College
| Regular deadline | 1/3 |
| Notification date | Early April |
| Reply deadline | 1-May |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| ED acceptance rate | 22% |
Will my child graduate from Dartmouth College?
These predict outcomes at Dartmouth College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Dartmouth College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Dartmouth College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Political Science and Government and Computer Science. Across all programs, Dartmouth College confers roughly 775 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $153,295 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | 170 | $153,295 |
| Political Science and Government | 153 | $101,103 |
| Computer Science | 130 | $192,848 |
| Engineering Science | 94 | $99,468 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 71 | — |
| Applied Statistics | 57 | — |
| Biology, General | 55 | $75,571 |
| Mathematics | 45 | — |
Is Dartmouth College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Dartmouth College disclosed 115 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 25.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 16 violent offenses and 49 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Dartmouth College?
About 85% of undergraduates at Dartmouth College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 26% of men join a fraternity and 29% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in New Hampshire parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Dartmouth College
Common questions parents ask about Dartmouth College
What GPA do I need for Dartmouth College?
Successful applicants to Dartmouth College typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.
What SAT or ACT score does Dartmouth College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 760–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 740. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35.
How much does Dartmouth College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Dartmouth College after grants and scholarships is $29,519 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $68,268. Budget against the net figure.
Is Dartmouth College realistic for my child?
Dartmouth College admits 6% of applicants, so 760–790 SAT Math is target range and below 760 is a reach. Then check the $29,519 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Dartmouth College?
Dartmouth College accepts about 6% of applicants out of roughly 28,230 who apply each year. That makes it a most selective school.
Is Dartmouth College test-optional?
No. Dartmouth College requires SAT or ACT scores as part of a standard application.
What is the graduation rate at Dartmouth College?
About 95% of students at Dartmouth College graduate within six years. 98% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Dartmouth College?
Dartmouth College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 22%, compared with its overall rate of 6%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Dartmouth College look for in applicants?
Dartmouth College rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Dartmouth College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Dartmouth College is a private nonprofit institution located in Hanover, New Hampshire.
What are the most popular majors at Dartmouth College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Dartmouth College by annual graduates are Economics, Political Science and Government and Computer Science. The school awards about 775 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Dartmouth College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Dartmouth College reported 115 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 25.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Dartmouth College?
At Dartmouth College, 85% of undergraduates live on campus, 26% of men are in fraternities, 29% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Dartmouth College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers