Dartmouth University is a private Ivy League research university located in Hanover, New Hampshire. It is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution.
What is Dartmouth University?
Dartmouth University was founded by Eleazar Wheelock in 1769 to educate Native Americans in Christian theology and the English way of life. The Dartmouth primarily trained Congregationalist ministers during its early history before it gradually secularized. While Dartmouth is now a research university rather than simply an undergraduate college, it continues to go by “Dartmouth College” to emphasize its focus on undergraduate education. Following a liberal arts curriculum, Dartmouth provides undergraduate instruction in 40 academic departments and interdisciplinary programs, including 60 majors in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, and enables students to design specialized concentrations or engage in dual degree programs.
Testing Scores for Admission
According to the college, the median SAT score is 1520, while the median ACT score is 33. Shifting to class rank, 94% of the Class of 2025 had earned a place in the top 10% of their graduating high school class. In addition, more than 500 High School valedictorians are accepted into the school in a typical year. As such, GPA is just as important as the main two standardized tests.
Acceptance & Graduation Rate
To get into Dartmouth, a student’s standardized test scores and high school GPA have to be exceptional. This is reflected in the acceptance rate as it is 6%. However, this school has enrolled some of the brightest students as the graduation rate is 95%. However, the acceptance rate jumps to 19% for early decision.
How Are Applicants Rated?
Dartmouth ranks the following categories as being “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores, application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities. Only talent/ability is rated as “important,” and interviews, first-generation status, legacy status, geographic residence, racial/ethnic status, volunteer work, work, experience, and the level of an applicant’s interest are “considered.”
Tips to Get Into Dartmouth
- All Ivy leagues, including Dartmouth accept the Common App so students should use that to their advantage by filling out the activities section.
- The school will remain test-optional for those applying to enter the Class of 2027.
- Dartmouth does schedule alumni interviews for its applicants. Dartmouth interviews for early decision candidates are scheduled in November and interviews for regular decision applicants are scheduled between December and mid-February.
- Dartmouth does consider “demonstrated interest” so, if possible, it is a good idea to make a campus visit, contact an admissions officer, connect with the college on social media, and/or attend any local presentations by admissions officials at college fairs.
How Does Dartmouth Compare to Other Top Universities?
Dartmouth’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted is 62%. For comparison, elite schools such as Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, Vanderbilt, Rice, Emory, and Georgetown all have yield rates under 50%.
Are you or will you be attending Dartmouth University?
Stock up on gear to show your pride for the Big Green. Grab this sweatshirt, decals for your laptop, or this Dartmouth pennant.
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