Dartmouth vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Dartmouth vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Penn? 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 Penn ($20,322 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 4.1% lower than at Dartmouth College ($19,174 vs. $19,999).
• University of Pennsylvania is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dartmouth (about $418 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Penn than at Dartmouth College (about $418 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pennsylvania than at Dartmouth College (51% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 3.1% larger than aid received by University of Pennsylvania students ($67,471 vs. $65,458).

Dartmouth vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is the same as at Penn (1540).
• Incoming Penn students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Dartmouth).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
• Dartmouth has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 68% at Penn.

Dartmouth vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Penn? 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).

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Dartmouth College's (95%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $104,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $7,172 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($13,461 vs. $20,633).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($139 vs. $213).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

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.