Rutgers vs. Dickinson College

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Dickinson College? 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Dickinson College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Dickinson College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Dickinson College 2,314
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Dickinson College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Dickinson College #76
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Dickinson College -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Dickinson College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Dickinson College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Dickinson College $17,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Dickinson College $38,483
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Dickinson College $44,479
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Dickinson College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Dickinson College 7,258
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Dickinson College 3,055
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Dickinson College 42.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Dickinson College 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Dickinson College 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Dickinson College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Dickinson College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Dickinson College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Dickinson College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Dickinson College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Dickinson College 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Dickinson College 1310/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Dickinson College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Dickinson College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Dickinson College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Ethnic Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Dickinson College 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Dickinson College $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Dickinson College 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Dickinson College $21,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Dickinson College $217

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Dickinson College 40%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Dickinson College 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Dickinson College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Dickinson College No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Dickinson College 72%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Dickinson College 3%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Dickinson College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Dickinson College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Dickinson College 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Dickinson College 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Dickinson College 67%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Rutgers No
  • Dickinson College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Dickinson College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Dickinson College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Dickinson College is in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Dickinson College 11:1.

Rutgers vs. Dickinson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Dickinson 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Dickinson College ($20,522 vs. $38,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 8.1% lower than at Dickinson College ($15,714 vs. $17,100).
  • Dickinson College is 266.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $47,721 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.3% higher at Dickinson College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $28,209 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (96% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 165.7% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($44,479 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Dickinson College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Dickinson 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 Dickinson College and Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 20 points higher than at Dickinson College (1390).
  • Incoming Dickinson College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Dickinson College 1310/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Dickinson College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Dickinson College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 21.1% at Dickinson College.

Rutgers vs. Dickinson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Dickinson 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).

  • Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Dickinson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have a $1,215 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($21,000 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($217 vs. $229).
  • More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 68%)

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.