Dartmouth College

Getting in is the hard part. Dartmouth College admitted 5.4% of applicants in its most recent reported class, one of the lowest rates in the country. Realistically it is a reach for every applicant, no matter how strong.

Admitted students cluster near the top of the testing range: the middle 50% score 1500–1570 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. Scores at or above that band keep you in contention, but they do not decide it.

The real question is not your odds but your move. That is where Spike comes in: it reads your profile against what Dartmouth College actually rewards, and tells you what to do next.

Check your own numbers against this class →

• Next deadlineNovember 1, 2026 (ED)
• Regular decisionJanuary 1, 2027
• TestingRequired (2026 cycle)
• Recommendations3 letters
• Personal essayRequired
• ApplicationCommon App

Verified from https://dartmouth.edu.

The current prompts, straight from the application. These change year to year, so most guides you will find are a cycle behind.

• As you seek admission to Dartmouth's Class of 2031, what aspects of the college's academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? How is Dartmouth a good fit for you?

  Up to 100 words

• There is a Quaker saying: Let your life speak. Describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today.

  Up to 250 words

• What excites you?

  Up to 250 words

• Celebrate your nerdy side.

  Up to 250 words

• "Be yourself," Oscar Wilde advised. "Everyone else is taken." Introduce yourself.

  Up to 250 words

• Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. 'We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things,' she said. 'That is what we are put on the earth for.' In what ways do you hope to make—or are you already making—an impact? Why? How?

  Up to 250 words

• In an Instagram post, best-selling British author Matt Haig cheered the impact of reading. 'A good novel is the best invention humans have ever created for imagining other lives,' he wrote. How have you experienced such insight from reading? What did you read and how did it alter the way you understand yourself and others?

  Up to 250 words

• The social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees have been the focus of Dame Jane Goodall's research for decades. Her understanding of animal behavior prompted the English primatologist to see a lesson for human communities as well: 'Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right.' Channel Dame Goodall: Tell us about a moment when you engaged in a difficult conversation or encountered someone with an opinion or perspective that was different from your own. How did you find common ground?

  Up to 250 words

Every prompt, with how to approach each →

Verified from https://dartmouth.edu.

The sticker price is about $87,793, but that is not what most families pay. After need-based aid, the average net price is $29,519.

Ten years after enrolling, graduates earn a median of $97,434.

Verified from https://dartmouth.edu and the U.S. Department of Education.

Is Dartmouth College test-optional?

No. For the 2026 application cycle, Dartmouth College requires SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants.

How hard is it to get into Dartmouth College?

Very hard. Dartmouth College admits 5.4% of applicants, and the middle 50% of admitted students score 1500 to 1570 on the SAT. Treat it as a reach for every applicant.

When is the Dartmouth College application deadline?

The next deadline is November 1, 2026 (ED). Regular Decision closes January 1, 2027.

How much does Dartmouth College cost?

The list price is about $87,793, but the average price families actually pay after aid is $29,519.

Is Dartmouth College worth it?

Graduates earn a median of $97,434 ten years after enrolling, and 96% graduate within six years. Value depends on your aid offer and your goals, which is exactly what Spike helps you weigh.