Wellesley vs. Dartmouth

Comparable Facts

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

Dartmouth College is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wellesley vs. Dartmouth Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley or Dartmouth? 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 Wellesley ($20,322 vs. $22,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dartmouth College are 4.9% lower than at Wellesley College ($19,999 vs. $21,024).
• Dartmouth College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wellesley (about $1,092 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $67,176.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Dartmouth than at Wellesley College (about $1,092 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $67,176.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at Dartmouth College (54% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 5.2% larger than aid received by Wellesley College students ($67,471 vs. $64,116).

Wellesley vs. Dartmouth Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 30 points higher than at Wellesley (1510).
• Incoming Wellesley students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Dartmouth (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Dartmouth College 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Dartmouth College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Dartmouth - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Dartmouth students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Wellesley (3.86).
• Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (14%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 69.1% at Dartmouth.

Wellesley vs. Dartmouth Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley and Dartmouth? 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 Wellesley College's (92%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $35,900 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $4,561 lower median loan debt than Dartmouth graduates ($8,900 vs. $13,461).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dartmouth graduates ($92 vs. $139).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 86%)

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.