Dartmouth vs. Stanford

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Dartmouth vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($20,322 vs. $25,078).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dartmouth College are 6.2% lower than at Stanford University ($19,999 vs. $21,315).
• Dartmouth College is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $2,358 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $65,910.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at Dartmouth than at Stanford University (about $2,358 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $65,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Dartmouth College (61% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Stanford University students ($67,471 vs. $62,755).

Dartmouth vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Dartmouth (1540).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Stanford (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Stanford University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Stanford University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Stanford - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
• Dartmouth has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Stanford (3.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Dartmouth vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Stanford? 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).

• Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Dartmouth College's (95%).
• Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $104,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $986 lower median loan debt than Dartmouth graduates ($12,475 vs. $13,461).
• Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dartmouth graduates ($128 vs. $139).
• More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.