Dartmouth vs. RPI

Deciding between Dartmouth College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? 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
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dartmouth Hanover, NH
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Dartmouth Remote Town
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Dartmouth 6,938
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Dartmouth Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dartmouth #12
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dartmouth -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Dartmouth Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dartmouth
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dartmouth $68,268
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dartmouth $68,268
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Dartmouth $19,999
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Dartmouth $20,322
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dartmouth $67,471
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dartmouth 47%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dartmouth 31,656
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Dartmouth 1,710
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dartmouth 5.4%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Dartmouth 69.1%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dartmouth 1540
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dartmouth 34
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dartmouth 3.9
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dartmouth A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dartmouth Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dartmouth Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Dartmouth 33/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Dartmouth 1500/1570
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dartmouth Required
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dartmouth 7:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dartmouth
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dartmouth 95%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dartmouth $104,000
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dartmouth 87%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dartmouth $13,461
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dartmouth $139
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dartmouth 51%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Dartmouth 49%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dartmouth High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Dartmouth No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Dartmouth 49%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Dartmouth 15%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Dartmouth 7%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dartmouth 8%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Dartmouth 2%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dartmouth 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dartmouth 5%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Dartmouth 8%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dartmouth 5%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dartmouth 2%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dartmouth 81%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Dartmouth vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or RPI? 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 RPI ($20,322 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 9.4% lower than at Dartmouth College ($18,120 vs. $19,999).
  • Dartmouth College is 6.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $4,187 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at Dartmouth than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $4,187 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Dartmouth College (95% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 55% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($67,471 vs. $43,517).

Dartmouth vs. RPI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 100 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Dartmouth students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Dartmouth students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Dartmouth vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and RPI? 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $21,500 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $14,039 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($13,461 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($139 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.