Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given Dartmouth's 6.2% acceptance rate, most applicants—even highly qualified ones—should consider it a reach school and build comprehensive application lists with more accessible alternatives.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar career outcomes with better admission prospects, consider Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (58.5% acceptance rate, $102,051 median earnings) just 97 miles away in New York. Bucknell University in Pennsylvania admits 32.0% of applicants while producing graduates earning $93,807. Lafayette College accepts 31.5% of applicants with graduates earning $91,410. All three institutions offer strong alumni networks and similar liberal arts environments with significantly more realistic admission odds.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students preferring to stay in New England should consider Williams College in Massachusetts (10.0% acceptance rate, $88,665 median earnings) located 83 miles from Dartmouth. While still selective, Williams admits 3.8 percentage points more applicants than Dartmouth. Middlebury College in Vermont, just 49 miles away, admits 10.4% of applicants. Both institutions offer similar academic environments and strong alumni networks within the region.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
Other highly selective institutions include Yale University (4.5% acceptance rate, $100,533 median earnings) for students interested in similar academic prestige. Princeton University admits 4.5% of applicants while delivering higher median earnings of $110,066. Williams College at 10.0% acceptance provides a somewhat less selective alternative with strong outcomes. These schools compete for similar applicant pools and offer comparable academic environments.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
