Notre Dame vs Dartmouth - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Dartmouth: 6% against 11.3% (Notre Dame).
The more international environment is at Dartmouth (14.5% international students) than Notre Dame (7.5%).
Real money goes to international students at Dartmouth ($87,562 on average), while Notre Dame stops at $62,803.
On SAT scores this is the same calibre of applicant: 1510 and 1520.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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 11.3% acceptance). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($100K vs $97K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 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 Notre Dame for: higher graduate earnings, higher retention, lower tuition.
Choose Dartmouth for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, a larger aid package.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Dartmouth is more selective (6.02% vs 11.3% acceptance); Dartmouth has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 1510).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $97K); Dartmouth has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.5% vs 95%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $71,525); Dartmouth offers a larger average aid package ($75,301 vs $67,855).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Notre Dame | Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 6.02% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 70.9% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1520 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 28,230 |
| International students | 7.5% | 14.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $97K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $189K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 95.5% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 98% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $71,525 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $75,301 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $24,255 |
| Application fee | $85 | - |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 7,273 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Dartmouth?
It's harder to get into Dartmouth. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Dartmouth accepts 6.02%.
Do Notre Dame or Dartmouth graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $100K at Notre Dame and $97K at Dartmouth.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Dartmouth?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $71,525 per year at Dartmouth.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Dartmouth?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1520 at Dartmouth; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Dartmouth?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $75,301 at Dartmouth.
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