Harvard vs. Dartmouth

Deciding between Harvard University and Dartmouth College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
Dartmouth College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Dartmouth Hanover, NH
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Dartmouth Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Dartmouth 6,938
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Dartmouth Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Dartmouth #12
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Dartmouth -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Dartmouth Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Dartmouth

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Dartmouth $68,268
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Dartmouth $68,268
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Dartmouth $19,999
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Dartmouth $20,322
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Dartmouth $67,471
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Dartmouth 47%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Dartmouth 31,656
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Dartmouth 1,710
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Dartmouth 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Dartmouth 69.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Dartmouth 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Dartmouth 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Dartmouth 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Dartmouth A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Dartmouth Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Dartmouth Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Dartmouth 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Dartmouth 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Dartmouth Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Dartmouth 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Dartmouth
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Dartmouth 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Dartmouth $104,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Dartmouth 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Dartmouth $13,461
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Dartmouth $139

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Dartmouth 51%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Dartmouth 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Dartmouth High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Dartmouth No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Dartmouth 49%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Dartmouth 15%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Dartmouth 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Dartmouth 8%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Dartmouth 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Dartmouth 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Dartmouth 5%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Dartmouth 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Dartmouth 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Dartmouth 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Dartmouth 81%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Dartmouth Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Dartmouth Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Dartmouth Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Dartmouth No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Dartmouth No

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harvard vs. Dartmouth Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Dartmouth ($17,525 vs. $20,322).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dartmouth College are 5.6% lower than at Harvard University ($19,999 vs. $21,190).
  • Dartmouth College is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $6,592 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at Dartmouth than at Harvard University (about $6,592 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Dartmouth College (56% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Dartmouth College students ($68,015 vs. $67,471).

Harvard vs. Dartmouth Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Dartmouth (1540).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Dartmouth).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Dartmouth College 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Dartmouth College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Dartmouth - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Dartmouth (3.9).
  • Dartmouth has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 69.1% at Dartmouth.

Harvard vs. Dartmouth Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Dartmouth College's (95%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $32,700 more per year than Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $104,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $6,961 lower median loan debt than Dartmouth graduates ($6,500 vs. $13,461).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dartmouth graduates ($67 vs. $139).
  • More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

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.