Dartmouth vs. Lafayette College

Comparable Facts

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

Dartmouth College is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Lafayette College 10:1.

Dartmouth vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College ($20,322 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lafayette College are 0.7% lower than at Dartmouth College ($19,866 vs. $19,999).
• Dartmouth College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lafayette College (about $2,870 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $65,398.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Dartmouth than at Lafayette College (about $2,870 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $65,398.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at Dartmouth College (61% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 50.9% larger than aid received by Lafayette College students ($67,471 vs. $44,707).

Dartmouth vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 110 points higher than at Lafayette College (1430).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Lafayette College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Lafayette College 31/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Lafayette College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Dartmouth students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
• Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (31.4%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

Dartmouth vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College's (88%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than Lafayette College graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $81,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $12,539 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($13,461 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $129 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($139 vs. $268).
• More Lafayette College 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.