Is Dartmouth or Harvard harder to get into?

Harvard is harder to get into than Dartmouth. Harvard's 3.6% acceptance rate is lower than Dartmouth's 5.3%.

Which is cheaper, Dartmouth or Harvard?

Harvard costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Harvard's average net price is $19,066 vs $29,519 at Dartmouth.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Dartmouth or Harvard?

Harvard graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $97,434 at Dartmouth and $101,817 at Harvard.

Dartmouth vs. Harvard: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Dartmouth	Harvard
Acceptance rate	5.3%	3.6%
SAT mid-50%	1500–1580	1500–1580
ACT mid-50%	32–35	34–36
Cost of attendance	$89,346	$82,950
Avg net price (after aid)	$29,519	$19,066
Undergrad enrollment	4,458	7,240
6-yr graduation rate	95.5%	97.6%
Median earnings (10yr)	$97,434	$101,817
Setting	Hanover, New Hampshire	Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Real Differences

Harvard is modestly harder to get into. The 1.7-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.

Harvard is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $10,453 per year, $41,812 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Harvard is substantially larger with 7,240 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. Dartmouth is in Hanover, New Hampshire; Harvard is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 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.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Dartmouth is 48.2% women, 15.1% international, and 13.1% Asian-American. Harvard is 53.8% women, 14.6% international, and 22.4% Asian-American.

Demographic	Dartmouth	Harvard
Women	48.2%	53.8%
International	15.1%	14.6%
White	44.0%	30.9%
Asian	13.1%	22.4%
Hispanic	9.9%	11.9%
Black	6.2%	8.9%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Dartmouth vs. Harvard?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

Run the calculator

The Verdict

Pick Dartmouth if

Your odds are realistic at Dartmouth (slightly easier admit)
the D-Plan quarter system

Pick Harvard if

Net price matters: Harvard costs $10,453 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($101,817 vs $97,434)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
the residential Houses system

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Dartmouth College

5.3% accept · Hanover, New Hampshire

Full profile

Harvard University

3.6% accept · Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

Keep going

Calculate your odds All colleges Most selective Best financial aid Highest earnings

Dartmouth College vs. Harvard University