Head-to-head comparison
Dartmouth College vs. University of Pennsylvania
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Dartmouth or Penn harder to get into?
Dartmouth is harder to get into than Penn. Dartmouth's 5.3% acceptance rate is lower than Penn's 5.4%.
Which is cheaper, Dartmouth or Penn?
Penn costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Penn's average net price is $28,699 vs $29,519 at Dartmouth.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
Penn graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $97,434 at Dartmouth and $111,371 at Penn.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Dartmouth | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1500–1580 | 1500–1570 |
| ACT mid-50% | 32–35 | 34–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $89,346 | $89,028 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $29,519 | $28,699 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 4,458 | 10,539 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 95.5% | 96.5% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $97,434 | $111,371 |
| Setting | Hanover, New Hampshire | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
Selectivity is essentially the same. Dartmouth's 5.3% acceptance rate and Penn's 5.4% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.
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.
Penn graduates earn $13,937 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Dartmouth grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.
Penn is substantially larger with 10,539 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; Penn is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. Penn is 55.0% women, 12.6% international, and 28.4% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Dartmouth | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 48.2% | 55.0% |
| International | 15.1% | 12.6% |
| White | 44.0% | 27.4% |
| Asian | 13.1% | 28.4% |
| Hispanic | 9.9% | 11.3% |
| Black | 6.2% | 9.0% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Dartmouth vs. Penn?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Dartmouth if
- the D-Plan quarter system
Pick Penn if
- Your odds are realistic at Penn (slightly easier admit)
- Net price matters: Penn costs $820 less per year on average
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($111,371 vs $97,434)
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- the One University Policy that lets undergrads take classes across Wharton
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
University of Pennsylvania
5.4% accept · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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.