Dartmouth vs. Wake Forest

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wake Forest University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (9,322 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

Dartmouth vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth or Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest ($20,322 vs. $24,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wake Forest University are 7.5% lower than at Dartmouth College ($18,494 vs. $19,999).
• Dartmouth College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wake Forest (about $626 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $67,642.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Dartmouth than at Wake Forest University (about $626 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $67,642.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dartmouth College than at Wake Forest University (47% vs. 35%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Wake Forest University students ($67,471 vs. $63,117).

Dartmouth vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 70 points higher than at Wake Forest (1470).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Wake Forest).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Wake Forest University 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Wake Forest - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
• Wake Forest has a higher acceptance rate (21.7%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

Dartmouth vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth and Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest University's (88%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $26,800 more per year than Wake Forest graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $77,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $9,539 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($13,461 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($139 vs. $237).
• More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.