Cornell University vs. Dartmouth College

Dartmouth is modestly harder to get into. The 2.6-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.

Dartmouth draws stronger test scores. Mid-50% SAT range tops out at 1580 vs 1550 at the other school. Differences in test profile usually reflect a school's STEM-vs-humanities mix and the self-selection of applicants, not raw academic quality.

Net cost is essentially the same at both schools after grants and scholarships, despite different sticker prices. Both schools meet most demonstrated need for in-range income brackets.

Cornell is substantially larger with 16,071 undergrads vs 4,458 at Dartmouth. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Cornell is in Ithaca, New York; Dartmouth is in Hanover, New Hampshire. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Dartmouth has a more international student body (15.1% non-resident students vs 9.6%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.