Dartmouth vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Dartmouth vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Columbia? 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 Columbia ($20,322 vs. $22,520).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 12.1% lower than at Dartmouth College ($17,580 vs. $19,999).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dartmouth (about $3,577 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Columbia than at Dartmouth College (about $3,577 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than at Dartmouth College (52% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students ($67,471 vs. $67,010).

Dartmouth vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 10 points higher than at Dartmouth (1540).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Columbia (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
• Dartmouth has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Dartmouth vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Columbia? 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 Columbia University in the City of New York's (93%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $104,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $8,039 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($13,461 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($139 vs. $222).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 76%)

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.