Dartmouth College: Acceptance Rate and Your Chances

Updated June 2026 · CollegeCalcAI

Quick answer: Dartmouth College has a 6% acceptance rate, which makes it one of the hardest colleges in the country to get into. Admitted students typically score around 1560 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT. Use the free calculator below to estimate your personal odds at Dartmouth College.
Acceptance rate6%
SAT (75th percentile)1560
ACT (75th percentile)35
LocationNH
School typePrivate

Dartmouth College is an Ivy League school in Hanover, New Hampshire. It accepts about 6% of applicants, putting it in the same rarefied tier as the most selective universities in the country. Dartmouth has a strong sense of community and a distinctive quarter-based academic calendar that shapes how students experience the school.

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How hard is it to get into Dartmouth College?

A 6% acceptance rate is still extremely low. Dartmouth is smaller than most of its Ivy League peers, which means the total number of spots in each incoming class is limited and competition for those spots is intense.

Dartmouth tends to value students who will contribute to campus life as fully as they contribute academically. The school has a close-knit feel, and that tends to come through in what it looks for in applicants. Pure academic achievement is necessary but not sufficient.

Test scores that make you competitive

Admitted students at the 75th percentile score 1560 on the SAT and 35 on the ACT. These are high benchmarks that reflect the overall strength of the admitted pool. Dartmouth is test-optional, so applicants who believe their scores do not accurately represent their abilities can choose not to include them.

What Dartmouth looks for

Dartmouth uses holistic review and gives significant weight to personal qualities in addition to academics. The school is known for valuing students who have a strong sense of who they are and what they care about. Authentic engagement in activities, genuine intellectual curiosity, and the ability to work well with others all factor in.

Because Dartmouth is smaller and has a tight campus culture, it pays close attention to whether applicants seem like people who will show up, participate, and contribute to the community. Letters of recommendation and personal essays are important pieces of that picture.

Estimate your chances at Dartmouth College

The free CollegeCalcAI calculator at collegecalcai.com can give you a quick, personalized estimate of your chances at Dartmouth based on your GPA, test scores, and activities. It is worth checking before you finalize your college list.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dartmouth College's acceptance rate?

Dartmouth accepts about 6% of applicants.

What SAT or ACT score do I need for Dartmouth?

The 75th percentile SAT score for admitted students is 1560, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35. Dartmouth is test-optional, so submitting scores is not required.

Is Dartmouth hard to get into?

Yes. A 6% acceptance rate means Dartmouth rejects the large majority of applicants, including many who are well-qualified academically and personally.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS), NCES, and publicly reported Common Data Sets. Acceptance rate and score figures are rounded and reflect recent admissions cycles. How we calculate chances.