Yale vs. Dartmouth

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Dartmouth College is in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting).
• Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Dartmouth College 7:1.

Yale vs. Dartmouth Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale ($20,322 vs. $22,408).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 0.5% lower than at Dartmouth College ($19,900 vs. $19,999).
• Dartmouth College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $1,018 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $67,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at Dartmouth than at Yale University (about $1,018 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $67,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Dartmouth College (56% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Yale University students ($67,471 vs. $65,892).

Yale vs. Dartmouth Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 20 points higher than at Yale (1520).
• Incoming Yale 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: Yale University 1470/1570; Dartmouth College 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Dartmouth College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Dartmouth - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Yale 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 Yale (3.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 69.1% at Dartmouth.

Yale vs. Dartmouth Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

• Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Dartmouth College's (95%).
• Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $14,400 more per year than Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $104,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $39 lower median loan debt than Yale graduates ($13,461 vs. $13,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Dartmouth College and Yale graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($139 vs. $139).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale 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.