Houston vs Dartmouth - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Dartmouth admits 6% of applications, Houston admits 73.9%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Dartmouth: 14.5% of students against 5.7% (Houston).
Real money goes to international students at Dartmouth ($87,562 on average), while Houston stops at $4,456.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Dartmouth starts at $96,098 against $45,970 and ends at $20,797 against $29,520 (Houston).
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 73.92% acceptance). Houston ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #301-400). Dartmouth graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($97K vs $62K). Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 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 Houston for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Dartmouth for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Dartmouth is more selective (6.02% vs 73.92% acceptance); Dartmouth has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 1240).
Dartmouth graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($97K vs $62K); Dartmouth has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.5% vs 64.6%).
Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $71,525); Dartmouth offers a larger average aid package ($75,301 vs $16,450).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Houston | Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 73.92% | 6.02% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 70.9% |
| Median SAT | 1240 | 1520 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.49 | - |
| Number of applications | 31,716 | 28,230 |
| International students | 5.7% | 14.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $97K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $93K | $189K |
| Graduation rate | 64.6% | 95.5% |
| Retention rate | 87% | 98% |
| Median debt | $18,194 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $27,926 | $71,525 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,450 | $75,301 |
| % of need met | 55.1% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $21,819 | $24,255 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 47,980 | 7,273 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Houston or Dartmouth?
It's harder to get into Dartmouth. Houston accepts 73.92% of applicants, while Dartmouth accepts 6.02%.
Do Houston or Dartmouth graduates earn more?
Dartmouth graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $97K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Houston vs Dartmouth?
Sticker-price tuition is $27,926 per year at Houston and $71,525 per year at Dartmouth.
What SAT score do you need for Houston or Dartmouth?
The median admitted SAT score is 1240 at Houston and 1520 at Dartmouth; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Houston or Dartmouth?
Houston ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Houston vs #301-400 for Dartmouth.
Which university offers more financial aid - Houston or Dartmouth?
The average aid package is $16,450 at Houston and $75,301 at Dartmouth.
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