Dartmouth vs. Colgate

Deciding between Dartmouth College and Colgate University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Dartmouth College
Colgate University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dartmouth Hanover, NH
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Setting
  • Dartmouth Remote Town
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Dartmouth 6,938
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Type
  • Dartmouth Private 4 Year
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dartmouth #12
  • Colgate #30
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dartmouth -
  • Colgate -
  • Status
  • Dartmouth Non-profit
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dartmouth
  • Colgate
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dartmouth $68,268
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dartmouth $68,268
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Room & Board
  • Dartmouth $19,999
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Average Net Price
  • Dartmouth $20,322
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dartmouth $67,471
  • Colgate $58,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dartmouth 47%
  • Colgate 43%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dartmouth 31,656
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Admitted
  • Dartmouth 1,710
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dartmouth 5.4%
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Dartmouth 69.1%
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dartmouth 1540
  • Colgate 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dartmouth 34
  • Colgate 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dartmouth 3.9
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dartmouth A
  • Colgate A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dartmouth Elite
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dartmouth Extreme
  • Colgate Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Dartmouth 33/35
  • Colgate 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • Dartmouth 1500/1570
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dartmouth Required
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dartmouth 7:1
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dartmouth
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dartmouth 95%
  • Colgate 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dartmouth $104,000
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dartmouth 87%
  • Colgate 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dartmouth $13,461
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dartmouth $139
  • Colgate $166
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dartmouth 51%
  • Colgate 43%
  • % Women
  • Dartmouth 49%
  • Colgate 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dartmouth High
  • Colgate Medium
  • HBCU
  • Dartmouth No
  • Colgate No
  • % White
  • Dartmouth 49%
  • Colgate 67%
  • % Asian
  • Dartmouth 15%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Black
  • Dartmouth 7%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dartmouth 8%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Native American
  • Dartmouth 2%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dartmouth 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dartmouth 5%
  • Colgate 3%
  • % International
  • Dartmouth 8%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dartmouth 5%
  • Colgate 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dartmouth 2%
  • Colgate 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dartmouth 81%
  • Colgate 66%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Dartmouth Yes
  • Colgate Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Dartmouth Yes
  • Colgate Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Dartmouth Yes
  • Colgate Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Dartmouth No
  • Colgate No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Dartmouth No
  • Colgate No

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with Colgate University in Hamilton, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dartmouth College is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Colgate University is in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting).
  • Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Colgate University 9:1.

Dartmouth vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Colgate? 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 Colgate ($20,322 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 11.9% lower than at Dartmouth College ($17,610 vs. $19,999).
  • Colgate University is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dartmouth (about $2,038 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $68,268.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Colgate than at Dartmouth College (about $2,038 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $68,268.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dartmouth College than at Colgate University (47% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 15.7% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($67,471 vs. $58,334).

Dartmouth vs. Colgate Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 50 points higher than at Colgate (1490).
  • Incoming Dartmouth students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Colgate).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Colgate University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Colgate University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Colgate - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Dartmouth students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 28.7% at Colgate.

Dartmouth vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Colgate? 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 Colgate University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $28,700 more per year than Colgate graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $75,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $2,664 lower median loan debt than Colgate graduates ($13,461 vs. $16,125).
  • Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colgate graduates ($139 vs. $166).
  • More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 86%)

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.