Dartmouth vs. Duke

Comparable Facts

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

Duke University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Dartmouth vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Duke? 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 Duke ($20,322 vs. $21,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 9.4% lower than at Dartmouth College ($18,128 vs. $19,999).
• Duke University is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dartmouth (about $490 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Duke than at Dartmouth College (about $490 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dartmouth College than at Duke University (47% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 3% larger than aid received by Duke University students ($67,471 vs. $65,522).

Dartmouth vs. Duke Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is the same as at Duke (1540).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Duke (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Duke University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Duke University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Duke - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
• Duke has a higher acceptance rate (5.7%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 58.8% at Duke.

Dartmouth vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Duke? 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 Duke University's (94%).
• Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $104,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $5,961 lower median loan debt than Dartmouth graduates ($7,500 vs. $13,461).
• Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dartmouth graduates ($77 vs. $139).
• More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.