Texas Rio Grande Valley 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, Texas Rio Grande Valley admits 94.2%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Dartmouth: 14.5% of students against 1.7% (Texas Rio Grande Valley).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Dartmouth awards international students $87,562 on average, Texas Rio Grande Valley awards $6,258.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Dartmouth starts at $96,098 against $37,183 and ends at $20,797 against $25,941 (Texas Rio Grande Valley).
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 94.2% acceptance). Dartmouth ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#801-900 vs #301-400). Dartmouth graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($97K vs $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 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 Texas Rio Grande Valley for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Dartmouth for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Dartmouth is more selective (6.02% vs 94.2% acceptance); Dartmouth has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 985).
Dartmouth graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($97K vs $50K); Dartmouth has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.5% vs 50.9%).
Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $71,525); Dartmouth offers a larger average aid package ($75,301 vs $11,242).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Texas Rio Grande Valley | Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 94.2% | 6.02% |
| Yield rate | 55.4% | 70.9% |
| Median SAT | 985 | 1520 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 12,137 | 28,230 |
| International students | 1.7% | 14.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $97K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $29K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $189K |
| Graduation rate | 50.9% | 95.5% |
| Retention rate | 78.9% | 98% |
| Median debt | $12,950 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $22,287 | $71,525 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,242 | $75,301 |
| % of need met | 72% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $14,589 | $24,255 |
| Application fee | - | - |
| Enrollment | 31,864 | 7,273 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Texas Rio Grande Valley or Dartmouth?
It's harder to get into Dartmouth. Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2% of applicants, while Dartmouth accepts 6.02%.
Do Texas Rio Grande Valley or Dartmouth graduates earn more?
Dartmouth graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $97K vs $50K.
How much is tuition at Texas Rio Grande Valley vs Dartmouth?
Sticker-price tuition is $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley and $71,525 per year at Dartmouth.
What SAT score do you need for Texas Rio Grande Valley or Dartmouth?
The median admitted SAT score is 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley and 1520 at Dartmouth; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Texas Rio Grande Valley or Dartmouth?
Dartmouth ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley vs #301-400 for Dartmouth.
Which university offers more financial aid - Texas Rio Grande Valley or Dartmouth?
The average aid package is $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley and $75,301 at Dartmouth.
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