Dartmouth College combines highly selective admissions with exceptional post-graduation outcomes. As a Selective Achievers institution, the college delivers earnings in the 98.0th percentile nationally while maintaining debt levels well below peer institutions, creating exceptional long-term value for graduates across diverse career paths.
Among the highest we track, driven by exceptional long-term graduate earnings and controlled debt levels
Modestly below average, reflecting the higher costs typical of elite private institutions
Well above average, reflecting meaningful enrollment of diverse students despite highly selective admissions
Also well above average, indicating strong outcomes for students from various economic backgrounds
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisDartmouth College delivers exceptional return on investment despite earnings that track close to expectations based on student demographics. Graduates earn a median of $97,434 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 98.0th percentile nationally for long-term earnings.
While earnings beyond expectations measure $-2,436—around the national average—the absolute earnings level places Dartmouth among the top earning institutions nationally. Low-income graduates achieve particularly strong outcomes, earning $109,000 annually and ranking in the top 5% nationally for this metric.
High-achieving students seeking exceptional post-graduation earnings and strong alumni networks, particularly those interested in liberal arts education with quantitative rigor. Best suited for students who can handle highly competitive admissions and higher costs in exchange for top-tier career outcomes and prestige.
Dartmouth College admits approximately 6.2% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 16 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Dartmouth among the most selective universities in the United States, in the Most Selective category for institutions admitting fewer than 10% of applicants.
The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the exceptional selectivity gap between Dartmouth and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private colleges, Dartmouth's acceptance rate positions it as highly competitive.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Dartmouth College's published cost of attendance reaches $83,802 annually—that's $65,739 in tuition, $19,009 for room and board, and $1,005 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays significantly less after financial aid, with an average net price of $28,619 representing $55,183 in financial aid savings.
This net price sits close to the peer median of $27,143 for similar institutions, indicating Dartmouth's pricing aligns with other selective private colleges. The substantial gap between sticker price and net price reflects Dartmouth's robust financial aid program, which provides meaningful support across income levels.
Net prices vary dramatically based on family income, ranging from $2,978 for families earning under $30,000 to $51,575 for families earning over $110,000. This progressive pricing structure ensures that students from diverse economic backgrounds can access Dartmouth's educational opportunities.
The institution's financial aid approach prioritizes need-based assistance, with the largest savings directed toward lower-income families while maintaining accessibility for middle-income students who might otherwise face affordability challenges.
Computer Science.
99 graduates
Algebra and Number Theory.
46 graduates
Applied Economics.
166 graduates
Mathematics and Statistics, Other.
38 graduates
Engineering Science.
103 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Higher acceptance rate (52.2 percentage points higher) and located 97 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 58% | $102,051 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Dartmouth College hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/dartmouth-college/analysis.
Top 2% nationally for graduate earnings
Dartmouth College ranks #134 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, placing it in the 91.8th percentile with excellent performance overall. Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, this medium-sized private institution maintains highly selective admission standards with a 6.2% acceptance rate, admitting roughly 1 in 16 applicants.
As a Selective Achievers institution, Dartmouth enrolls fewer Pell-eligible students (14.8%) and first-generation students (17.4%) relative to peers while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes. The institution demonstrates remarkable consistency across its pillar performance, with return ranking at the 98.0th percentile—among the highest we track—and access ranking at the 78.2nd percentile, well above average for selective private colleges.
With admitted students scoring 1500-1570 on the SAT and a 97.8% retention rate, Dartmouth combines academic selectivity with strong institutional support systems.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with outstanding test scores, strong academic records, and compelling extracurricular profiles—face substantial uncertainty in the admission process. The volume of highly qualified applicants far exceeds available spots, making admission unpredictable even for top-tier candidates.
Students considering Dartmouth should approach it as a reach school regardless of their qualifications and build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates. The alternatives section below provides schools that deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission processes.
For students focused on post-graduation earning potential, several institutions offer similar or superior outcomes with significantly better admission odds.
Dartmouth graduates demonstrate steady earnings progression throughout their careers. Median earnings grow from $82,541 six years after enrollment to $97,905 at eight years and $97,434 at ten years, representing 18.0% growth from the six-year mark.
These figures are based on cohorts of 390 graduates for ten-year data, providing high confidence in reported outcomes. Graduates consistently rank in the 98.0th percentile for earnings nationally, with low-income graduates earning $109,000—placing them in the top 5% of all institutions for this critical mobility metric.
The earnings range from $64,562 at the 25th percentile to $189,467 at the 75th percentile demonstrates significant variation in post-graduation career paths. Approximately 23.0% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and immediate workforce entry.
Compared to peer median earnings of $63,066, Dartmouth graduates earn $34,368 more annually, highlighting the institution's exceptional performance within its peer group of selective private colleges.
Dartmouth offers 18 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for analysis. Engineering Science ranks #1 nationally with a perfect value score of 100.0, graduating 103 students with median earnings of $90,843.
Computer Science ranks #22 nationally and #1 in New Hampshire, producing 99 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $157,053. Applied Economics ranks #15 nationally, graduating 166 students with median earnings of $118,120 and representing the largest cohort among top-earning programs.
American Government and Politics ranks #8 nationally with 129 graduates earning $84,898, while American History ranks #5 nationally with graduates earning $82,121. Applied/Public Sociology achieves a perfect value score of 100.0 and ranks #1 nationally, though with a smaller cohort of 35 graduates earning $71,802.
These programs demonstrate Dartmouth's strength across both technical and liberal arts disciplines.
Bucknell University Higher acceptance rate (25.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 32% | $93,807 | Compare |
Lafayette College Higher acceptance rate (25.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 31% | $91,410 | Compare |
Williams College Same region (83 miles away) with similar earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | MA | 10% | $88,665 | Compare |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Same region (97 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | NY | 58% | $102,051 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#132 ranked) | RI | 5% | $93,487 | #132 | Compare |
Babson College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#131 ranked) | MA | 20% | $123,938 | #131 | Compare |
Johns Hopkins University Similar quality tier (#128 ranked) | MD | 8% | $87,555 | #128 | Compare |
Mcphs University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#148 ranked) | MA | 85% | $125,557 | #148 | Compare |
Washington And Lee University Similar quality tier (#150 ranked) | VA | 17% | $94,810 | #150 | Compare |
