Harvard vs. Dickinson College

Deciding between Harvard University and Dickinson 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
Dickinson College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Dickinson College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Dickinson College 2,314
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Dickinson College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Dickinson College #76
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Dickinson College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Dickinson College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Dickinson College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Dickinson College $17,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Dickinson College $38,483
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Dickinson College $44,479
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Dickinson College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Dickinson College 7,258
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Dickinson College 3,055
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Dickinson College 42.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Dickinson College 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Dickinson College 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Dickinson College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Dickinson College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Dickinson College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Dickinson College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Dickinson College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Dickinson College 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Dickinson College 1310/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Dickinson College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Dickinson College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Dickinson College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Ethnic Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Dickinson College 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Dickinson College $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Dickinson College 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Dickinson College $21,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Dickinson College $217

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Dickinson College 40%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Dickinson College 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Dickinson College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Dickinson College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Dickinson College 72%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Dickinson College 3%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Dickinson College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Dickinson College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Dickinson College 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Dickinson College 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Dickinson College 67%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Dickinson College is in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Dickinson College 11:1.

Harvard vs. Dickinson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Dickinson College? 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 Dickinson College ($17,525 vs. $38,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dickinson College are 19.3% lower than at Harvard University ($17,100 vs. $21,190).
  • Dickinson College is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $3,974 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Dickinson College than at Harvard University (about $3,974 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Harvard University (96% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 52.9% larger than aid received by Dickinson College students ($68,015 vs. $44,479).

Harvard vs. Dickinson College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Dickinson College? 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 Dickinson College and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 160 points higher than at Dickinson College (1390).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Dickinson College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Dickinson College 1310/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Dickinson College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Dickinson College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Dickinson College has a higher acceptance rate (42.1%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 21.1% at Dickinson College.

Harvard vs. Dickinson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Dickinson College? 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 Dickinson College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $74,700 more per year than Dickinson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $14,500 lower median loan debt than Dickinson College graduates ($6,500 vs. $21,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $150 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dickinson College graduates ($67 vs. $217).
  • More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.