Dartmouth vs. Princeton

Comparable Facts

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

Princeton University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Princeton University 5:1.

Dartmouth vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Princeton? 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 Princeton University than Dartmouth ($15,313 vs. $20,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dartmouth College are 1.2% lower than at Princeton University ($19,999 vs. $20,250).
• Dartmouth College is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $5,580 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at Dartmouth than at Princeton University (about $5,580 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Dartmouth College (67% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 1.9% larger than aid received by Dartmouth College students ($68,727 vs. $67,471).

Dartmouth vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Dartmouth (1540).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Princeton (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Princeton University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Princeton University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Princeton - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
• Dartmouth has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Dartmouth vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Princeton? 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).

• Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Dartmouth College's (95%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $104,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $5,961 lower median loan debt than Dartmouth graduates ($7,500 vs. $13,461).
• Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dartmouth graduates ($77 vs. $139).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.