Amherst vs. Dartmouth

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dartmouth College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Dartmouth College is in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Dartmouth College 7:1.

Amherst vs. Dartmouth Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Dartmouth? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Dartmouth ($19,049 vs. $20,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 8% lower than at Dartmouth College ($18,390 vs. $19,999).
• Amherst College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dartmouth (about $2,212 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Amherst than at Dartmouth College (about $2,212 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Dartmouth College (59% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Dartmouth College students ($68,591 vs. $67,471).

Amherst vs. Dartmouth Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Dartmouth? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Dartmouth and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is the same as at Dartmouth (1540).
• Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Dartmouth (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Dartmouth College 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Dartmouth College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Dartmouth - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
• Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 69.1% at Dartmouth.

Amherst vs. Dartmouth Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Dartmouth? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Dartmouth College's (95%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $22,000 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $486 lower median loan debt than Dartmouth graduates ($12,975 vs. $13,461).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dartmouth graduates ($134 vs. $139).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.