Dartmouth vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Real money goes to international students at Dartmouth ($87,562 on average), while Northwestern stops at $74,103.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Dartmouth: $97K against $89K.
At 6% and 7.7%, both admissions processes remain a lottery for any candidate; the difference between them is not an argument here.
Students admitted to both more often choose Dartmouth (70.9% enrol, against 55.3%).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Dartmouth is the more selective of the two (6.02% vs 7.69% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #33). Dartmouth graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($97K vs $89K). Northwestern has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,589 vs $71,525 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Dartmouth for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Dartmouth is more selective (6.02% vs 7.69% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1520).
Dartmouth graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($97K vs $89K); Dartmouth has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.5% vs 95.1%).
Northwestern has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,589 vs $71,525); Dartmouth offers a larger average aid package ($75,301 vs $68,110).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Dartmouth | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | - | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 6.02% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 70.9% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1520 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 28,230 | 49,474 |
| International students | 14.5% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $97K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $65K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $189K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 95.5% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 98% |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $71,525 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $75,301 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $24,255 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 7,273 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Dartmouth or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Dartmouth. Dartmouth accepts 6.02% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Dartmouth or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Dartmouth graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $97K vs $89K.
How much is tuition at Dartmouth vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,525 per year at Dartmouth and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Dartmouth or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1520 at Dartmouth and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Dartmouth or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Dartmouth vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Dartmouth or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $75,301 at Dartmouth and $68,110 at Northwestern.
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