Non-Profit Private
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Hanover, New Hampshire
6.2% Acceptance Rate
Dartmouth College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
6.2%Acceptance Rate
3.9Avg GPA
1533Avg SAT
34Avg ACT
$83,802Annual Cost
$97,434Grad Salary
14.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
6.2%
Avg GPA
3.9
Avg SAT
1533
Avg ACT
34
Selectivity
Extremely Competitive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1500–1570
ACT Middle 50%
33–35
Need-Based Aid
14.8% receive Pell
Dartmouth College, founded in 1769, is the smallest Ivy League institution, renowned for its undergraduate focus and strong liberal arts curriculum. Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth offers a close-knit community with access to outdoor recreational opportunities. The college's D-Plan allows flexible scheduling, including off-campus study and internships. Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business and Thayer School of Engineering are highly regarded. The campus blends historic buildings with modern research labs and arts facilities.
Dartmouth emphasizes experiential learning, with programs like the Dartmouth Outing Club and global study trips. The college's alumni network is fiercely loyal, supporting graduates in careers ranging from finance to public service. Dartmouth's commitment to undergraduate teaching and research sets it apart. Its unique blend of tradition and innovation attracts students seeking a transformative education.
Dartmouth College Acceptance Rate
Dartmouth College accepted just 6.2% of applicants last cycle, roughly 6 out of every 100 who applied, placing it among the most selective schools among colleges in New Hampshire.
What Dartmouth, Big Green Admissions Looks For
- Class Rank: Admitted students typically finish in the top 2–5% of their graduating class.
- Curriculum Rigor: AP, IB, or Honors coursework is treated as a baseline, not a bonus.
- A Defined Strength: Leadership, original research, or a national-level achievement carries more weight than a long activity list.
Selectivity at a Glance
Extremely Competitive
Selectivity scale: Extremely Competitive — 6.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
At this tier, meeting the average GPA and test scores is the baseline, not the differentiator. Your essays and recommendations are what separate you from the rest of an already-strong pool.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.90 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.70 – 3.89
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.45
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Dartmouth College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Dartmouth College is November 1 for Early Decision applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 85 days left — Early Decision
Early Decision
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Regular
January 2
Decision by: March 28
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Dartmouth, Big Green GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Dartmouth, Big Green is 3.9. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.60 and 3.9, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 4.10–4.30.Dartmouth, Big Green GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Extreme selectivity; requires elite academic standing.
Recommended Strategy: High Course Rigor (AP/IB/Honors) to validate the grade.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.90 – 4.00
Academic Target
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.70 – 3.89
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.50 – 3.69
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.49
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Dartmouth's acceptance rate is approximately 6.2%, and admitted students typically present exceptionally strong academic records alongside substantial extracurricular leadership.
- Dartmouth's Early Decision program is binding, with applicants notified by mid-December - a meaningful commitment to weigh seriously before applying.
- Dartmouth meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans, and offers First-Year Trips and Living Learning Communities that build cohort bonds before classes even begin, both of which are worth referencing if they genuinely speak to why you're applying.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Dartmouth, Big Green
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Dartmouth College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Dartmouth College (Dartmouth, Big Green) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Dartmouth, Big Green is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Dartmouth, Big Green Without SAT or ACT?
Dartmouth, Big Green considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Dartmouth College Average SAT Score: 1533
The average SAT score of admitted students at Dartmouth College is 1533 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1533 — Extremely Competitive
This places Dartmouth, Big Green in the top tier nationally for SAT scores. It sits well above the 75th percentile of all US test-takers.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1570 SAT or 35 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Dartmouth College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1500, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Dartmouth, Big Green. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 775 | 760 | 790 |
| SAT Reading | 760 | 740 | 780 |
| SAT Composite | 1533 | 1500 | 1570 |
Below 1500, you're behind most admitted students; at 1570 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1550
Can I get into Dartmouth College (Dartmouth, Big Green) with a 1550 SAT?
A 1550 SAT puts you ahead of most of Dartmouth, Big Green's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Dartmouth College (Dartmouth, Big Green) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Dartmouth, Big Green is 34.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 34 — Extremely Competitive
An average of 34 places Dartmouth, Big Green among the most ACT-competitive schools nationally.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 33 | 31 | 35 |
| ACT English | 36 | 35 | 36 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 33 | 35 |
Can I get into Dartmouth College with a 35 ACT?
A 35 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Dartmouth, Big Green's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Dartmouth, Big Green.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Dartmouth, Big Green
Elite Strategy: The 'Spike' Approach
To succeed at a world-class institution like Dartmouth, Big Green, move beyond 'well-rounded' and show you're institutionally necessary, with a specific, undeniable strength rather than a broad set of decent ones.
Name a Specific Professor or Program in Your Required 100-Word "Why Dartmouth" Essay
With only 100 words, successful responses identify two to three concrete, specific reasons Dartmouth fits - naming an actual professor whose research aligns with your interests, the Thayer School of Engineering's modified majors, or the D-Plan's flexibility for off-cycle internships - rather than offering generic praise that could apply to any elite school. Go deep on one or two features instead of listing several shallowly.
Treat the D-Plan as a Genuine Selling Point, Not a Footnote
Dartmouth's D-Plan divides the year into four 10-week terms, letting students take terms off-campus for internships, research, or study abroad without falling behind academically. If you have a specific plan - a research project, an internship industry, a study-abroad goal - that the D-Plan's flexibility would uniquely enable, name it concretely; this signals genuine engagement with Dartmouth's actual academic structure rather than its general reputation.
Avoid Generic References to Popular Dartmouth Features Like the Outing Club
The Dartmouth Outing Club and the campus's outdoor culture are popular essay topics precisely because so many applicants gravitate toward them - simply stating "I love the outdoors" does nothing to differentiate you. If outdoor culture genuinely matters to you, anchor it in a specific personal memory (a high school trip, a particular skill, a community built around it) so your connection reads as personal rather than performative.
Don't Overlook the Required Peer Recommendation
Unlike most peer Ivies, Dartmouth requires a peer recommendation in addition to standard teacher and counselor letters. Choose a peer who can speak concretely to your character and daily interactions rather than your achievements - this letter is evaluated for a different kind of insight than your academic recommendations, so don't treat it as a formality or leave it to the last minute.
Expert Insight: Do not submit a Dartmouth supplement that name-drops popular resources (the Outing Club, the D-Plan, a famous professor) without specific personal detail behind the reference - admissions officers read these supplements at volume and can immediately distinguish a researched, personally-anchored response from a surface-level one borrowed from a "why this school" template.
Dartmouth, Big Green Profile
Full Name
Dartmouth College (Dartmouth, Big Green)
City
Hanover
State
New Hampshire
ZIP Code
03755-3529
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a Dartmouth, Big Green Degree Worth It?
At $83,802/year against a $97,434 median graduate salary, Dartmouth, Big Green is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $79,800, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.18%.
How much does a degree from Dartmouth, Big Green Cost?
The sticker price is $83,802/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
14.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 12% take federal loans at Dartmouth, Big Green. File your FAFSA early and list Dartmouth, Big Green as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Dartmouth, Big Green Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $97,434. That's about 140% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Dartmouth College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont, CA | 1514 | 34 |
| Pomona College | Claremont, CA | 1520 | 34 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 1501 | 34 |
| Wesleyan University | Middletown, CT | 1513 | 34 |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 1494 | 33 |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 1507 | 33 |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN | 1510 | 34 |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell, IA | 1486 | 33 |
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick, ME | 1514 | 34 |
| Colby College | Waterville, ME | 1500 | 33 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Dartmouth College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, CA | 1537 | 35 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 1534 | 34 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 1526 | 34 |
| Williams College | Williamstown, MA | 1527 | 34 |
| Washington University in St Louis | St. Louis, MO | 1530 | 34 |
Degree Programs at Dartmouth, Big Green
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Dartmouth, Big Green Admissions
Dartmouth College graduates typically earn around $97,434 a year, on the higher end depending on industry.
At about $83,802 a year, Dartmouth College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Dartmouth College's Pell Grant rate of 14.8% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 6.2%, Dartmouth College admits a very small share of applicants. This is elite-tier selectivity.
Admitted students at Dartmouth College average a 3.9 GPA.
Dartmouth College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.6 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.5, Dartmouth College becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Dartmouth College — aim above 1533, ideally within the 1500–1570 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Dartmouth College is November 1 for Early Decision applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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