Dartmouth vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Dartmouth vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Dartmouth College than Carnegie Mellon ($20,322 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 9.2% lower than at Dartmouth College ($18,166 vs. $19,999).
• Dartmouth College is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $2,022 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Dartmouth than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $2,022 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than at Dartmouth College (51% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 40.3% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($67,471 vs. $48,107).

Dartmouth vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dartmouth or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon and Dartmouth.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is the same as at Carnegie Mellon (1540).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Carnegie Mellon (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Dartmouth students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Carnegie Mellon (3.89).
• Carnegie Mellon has a higher acceptance rate (11.7%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Dartmouth vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Carnegie Mellon? 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).

• Dartmouth College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Carnegie Mellon graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $102,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $12,789 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($13,461 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $132 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($139 vs. $271).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 87%)

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.