Dartmouth vs. Rice

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rice University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (8,961 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Rice University 6:1.

Dartmouth vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Rice? 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 Rice ($20,322 vs. $23,589).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 9.5% lower than at Dartmouth College ($18,100 vs. $19,999).
• Dartmouth College is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rice (about $4,124 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $64,144.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Dartmouth than at Rice University (about $4,124 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $64,144.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rice University than at Dartmouth College (56% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 20.1% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($67,471 vs. $56,199).

Dartmouth vs. Rice Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is the same as at Rice (1540).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Rice (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Rice University 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Rice University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Rice - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
• Rice has a higher acceptance rate (8%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Dartmouth vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Rice? 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 Rice University's (92%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $17,600 more per year than Rice graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $86,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $3,234 lower median loan debt than Dartmouth graduates ($10,227 vs. $13,461).
• Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dartmouth graduates ($105 vs. $139).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rice students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.