Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire · Private Nonprofit · 5.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 95/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Dartmouth scores 95 (Exceptional Value). The payback period is 4.1 years. Completion rate of 95.5% is strong. Computer Science (136 graduates) earns $132,919 year-one and $201,702 year-four. Economics leads by graduate volume (196 graduates, $94,675 year-one, $152,929 year-four). International Relations (182 graduates) rounds out the top programs by size. Dartmouth's D-Plan calendar - a non-traditional quarterly schedule with mandatory off-term internships - creates a distinctive placement network and industry timing that the Scorecard does not capture. The payback and earnings numbers are real and reflect major mix; the Dartmouth credential in finance and consulting has a track record the raw aggregate undersells.
The median graduate earns $97,434 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Dartmouth College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $68,268/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $68,268/yr |
| Average net price | $29,519/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $118,076 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $97,434 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $74,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $186 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 95.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,541 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $68,268/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,519/year, or roughly $118,076 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $41/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $52,036/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,500, which works out to about $186 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($74,600) and comes to 0.23, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $41 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $489 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $2,695 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,534 |
| $110,001+ | $52,036 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $41 net price per year at Dartmouth - effectively free. The 30001-48000 bracket is $489 per year. These figures reflect Dartmouth's need-blind admissions and meet-full-need financial aid policy. For low-income students who gain admission, the financial barriers are essentially eliminated.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket rises to $2,695, and the 75001-110000 bracket reaches $8,534. Middle-income families face a gradual cost slope that keeps Dartmouth affordable well into the upper-middle tier. The $8,534 net price for families earning up to $110,000 compares with a $68,268 sticker price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $52,036 per year at Dartmouth - roughly $208,000 over four years. Students entering finance or consulting tracks recover the investment on standard timelines; students in lower-earning fields face a longer payback horizon.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Dartmouth College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $152,929 | A |
| International Relations | $106,153 | A |
| Computer Science | $201,702 | A |
| Biology | $87,026 | C+ |
| Engineering Science | $113,749 | A |
| Mathematics | $168,580 | A |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $99,344 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $58,090 | C+ |
| History | $136,403 | B+ |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $143,067 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is Dartmouth's highest-earning program: 136 graduates, $132,919 median at year one, $201,702 at year four. The placement runs into software engineering, fintech, and data science roles, with active recruiting by major technology and financial firms.
Economics
Economics is Dartmouth's largest program at 196 graduates: $94,675 year-one and $152,929 year-four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.194 (ROI grade A) with median debt of $18,400. Dartmouth economics graduates feed into investment banking, management consulting, and financial services at high rates, partly driven by the D-Plan's structured off-term internship opportunities. The year-one figure of $94k is strong for economics nationally and reflects the finance pipeline.
Engineering Science
Engineering Science (79 graduates) earns $89,929 at year one and $113,749 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.190 (ROI grade A) and median debt of $17,083. Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering offers an unusual model: all engineering undergraduates complete a broad engineering science curriculum rather than specialized tracks. Graduates go into engineering consulting, energy, materials, and general engineering roles. The year-one figure of $89k is strong for an engineering generalist degree; the year-four figure of $113k reflects placement in roles where breadth of engineering knowledge is valued.
International Relations
International Relations is Dartmouth's third-largest program at 182 graduates: $72,618 year-one and $106,153 year-four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.241 (ROI grade A) with median debt of $17,500. The four-year figure of $106k is competitive.
Mathematics
Mathematics (64 graduates) earns $108,255 at year one and $168,580 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.107 (ROI grade A) and median debt of $11,617 - the lowest debt in Dartmouth's program set. The year-one figure of $108k reflects strong placement into quantitative finance and technology. Dartmouth math graduates have a clear pipeline into hedge funds, proprietary trading, and quantitative research roles at financial firms, which accounts for the strong year-one earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 92.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Dartmouth College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 760-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 740-780 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 4,541 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 14.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $19,770 |
Dartmouth admits 5.4% of applicants. SAT Math 760-790 and Reading 740-780 are the mid-ranges; ACT 33-35. Dartmouth places significant weight on demonstrated fit with its residential, close-knit model - essays about community engagement and intellectual curiosity carry weight. Athletic recruitment is active. Students applying to Dartmouth should engage specifically with the D-Plan and residential college aspects in their applications, as fit with the campus model is an explicit admissions consideration.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth College (this school) | 95 | $29,519 | $97,434 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 99 | $20,111 | $143,372 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 96 | $18,809 | $87,555 |
| Princeton University | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| Franklin Pierce University | 39 | $27,154 | $53,353 |
| Colby-Sawyer College | 32 | $27,431 | $46,474 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Dartmouth College side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Dartmouth admits 5.4% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 760-790 Math and 740-780 Reading; ACT 33-35 composite. Pell rate is 14.4%. The D-Plan calendar requires students to be flexible about when they are on campus versus on internship or off-term; students who want a traditional four-year residential schedule should evaluate whether this model fits. Finance, consulting, and government are the dominant career outputs. Students interested in environmental policy, outdoor recreation, or a small residential campus will find Dartmouth's NH setting distinctive.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Dartmouth College is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $118,076 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $97,434 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.1 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 95.5% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $17,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $74,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Dartmouth College: Common Questions
Is Dartmouth College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Dartmouth College pays off. It scores 95/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $29,519 a year after aid ($118,076 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $97,434 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.1 years to earn back.
How much does Dartmouth College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $29,519 a year, or roughly $118,076 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Dartmouth College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $97,434 ten years after enrolling, roughly $55,634 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Dartmouth College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.1 years for Dartmouth College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Dartmouth College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,500, against average earnings of $74,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Dartmouth College?
The six-year graduation rate is 95.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.