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SelectiveReviewed for the 2026-2027 cycle

Dickinson College acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 42%, Dickinson College is a selective private college in Pennsylvania. Because it admits a minority of applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Your odds at Dickinson College
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Dickinson College weighs, where it ranks among Pennsylvania schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1380, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Dickinson College?

In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, Dickinson College admitted 56.8% of Early Decision applicants (258 of 454), against about 40.2% of everyone else. Its overall rate that year was 41.5%.

Source: Dickinson College Common Data Set 2025-26, IPEDS admissions survey, fall 2023. Updated October 30, 2026.

Acceptance rate
42%
Selective
SAT middle 50%
1310-1460
of admitted students
Type
Private
Carlisle, PA
Average net price
$37,607
per year after aid

Dickinson College application deadlines, 2026-27 · Dickinson College supplemental essays, 2026-27

What do students study at Dickinson College?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Social Sciences · 95 (20.7%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 76 (16.5%)Business, Management and Marketing · 49 (10.7%)Natural Resources and Conservation · 37 (8%)Psychology · 33 (7.2%)Area, Ethnic, Cultural and Gender Studies · 24 (5.2%)Visual and Performing Arts · 22 (4.8%)Computer and Information Sciences · 20 (4.3%)Foreign Languages and Linguistics · 19 (4.1%)Legal Professions and Studies · 14 (3%)Physical Sciences · 14 (3%)English Language and Literature · 13 (2.8%)

Will I get into Dickinson College?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Dickinson College, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Dickinson College?

Dickinson College admits roughly 42% of applicants, but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Dickinson College in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Dickinson College hard to get into?

Dickinson College is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 42% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.

What GPA do you need to get into Dickinson College?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Dickinson College, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Dickinson College reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Dickinson College →

Your chances at Dickinson College by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Dickinson College for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Dickinson College with a 3.5 GPA and a 1390 SAT?

About 66% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1390 SAT, the middle of Dickinson College's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1460 SAT comes out near 82%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Dickinson College by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 131025th pctSAT 1390middleSAT 146075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.931%Target39%Target46%Likely26%Target
3.244%Target52%Likely60%Likely41%Target
3.558%Likely66%Likely73%Safety58%Likely
3.871%Safety77%Safety82%Safety73%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/dickinson-college.

Early Decision, Early Action and the waitlist at Dickinson College

From Dickinson College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set (fall 2025 entering class): sections C1, C2, C21-C22 and D2.

Early Decision admit rate
56.8%
258 of 454
Everyone else
~40.2%
applied another way
Class admitted early
10.9%
of all admits were ED
Admitted off the waitlist
8
12.7% of 63 who stayed on
Transfer admit rate
25%
37 of 148

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Dickinson College?

56.8%. Dickinson College admitted 258 of 454 Early Decision applicants for fall 2025, against 41.5% of all 5,719 first-year applicants (Dickinson College's 2025-26 Common Data Set).

Does applying early decision help at Dickinson College?

On the raw numbers, yes: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 56.8% versus about 40.2% for everyone who applied another way, 1.4x the rate, and Early Decision filled 10.9% of the admitted class. Part of that gap is who applies early (recruited athletes and legacy applicants often do), so it is not all the round itself. Early Decision is binding: apply only if Dickinson College is your clear first choice and the family can commit without comparing aid offers.

How many students get off the waitlist at Dickinson College?

8 for fall 2025. Dickinson College offered 335 applicants a waitlist spot, 63 accepted one, and 8 were admitted from it: 12.7% of those who stayed on (Dickinson College's 2025-26 Common Data Set).

What is the transfer acceptance rate at Dickinson College?

25%: 37 of 148 transfer applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (Dickinson College's 2025-26 Common Data Set).

Source: Dickinson College Common Data Set 2025-26. Read from the document twice independently; only matching figures are shown. See how early rounds compare across colleges in the Early Decision rankings.

How to get into Dickinson College

Built from Dickinson College's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Here is how to get into Dickinson College, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Dickinson College carries about a 3.54 core GPA and a 1410 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1310 to 1460 SAT (30 to 33 ACT). Submit a score at 1385 or higher; below 1310, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Dickinson College weighs

Dickinson College rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and character / personal qualities highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

An early application signals interest and gets your file read before the pool fills. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Dickinson College's exact dates at www.dickinson.edu.

See your odds and your top moves at Dickinson College →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.dickinson.edu ↗

How many students apply to Dickinson College, and how many get in?

For the fall 2023 entering class, Dickinson College received 7,185 applications and admitted 3,095, an acceptance rate of 43.1%. 525 enrolled. Only about 17% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Dickinson College enrolls about 2,273 undergraduates in total, 60% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1.

Applied
7,185
fall 2023
Admitted
3,095
43.1% of applicants
Enrolled
525
17% yield
Undergraduates
2,273
Carlisle, small city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Dickinson College?

Admitted students at Dickinson College post SAT scores of 1310 to 1460 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1391. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 30 to 33. A score above 1460 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1310 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Dickinson College is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1310-1460
average 1391
ACT middle 50%
30-33
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Dickinson College looks for

What Dickinson College weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Dickinson College leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and character / personal qualities. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Dickinson College's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Dickinson College

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Dickinson College
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400In the competitive admitted range
1300Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1380 SAT →Colleges for a 30 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Dickinson College cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Dickinson College (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $82,902 a year. Tuition and fees alone are $65,650. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $37,607 a year, and it ranges from $40,755 for families earning under $30,000 to $45,175 for families earning over $110,000. 13% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$82,902
per year, before aid
Average net price
$37,607
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
13%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$40,755
$30k to $48k$15,081
$48k to $75k$16,316
$75k to $110k$22,696
Over $110k$45,175

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Dickinson College graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Dickinson College students ten years after entry are $70,204 ($57,110 at the six-year mark). 80% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 92% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $19,000; 39% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$70,204
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
80%
within six years
Retention
92%
return for year two
Median debt
$19,000
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Dickinson College compares in Pennsylvania

Dickinson College ranks #12 most selective of 62 schools in Pennsylvania in our database.

Among the 62 Pennsylvania schools we track, Dickinson College ranks #12 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Pennsylvania (5%) and Swarthmore College (7%) sit nearby, which makes Pennsylvania a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

University of Pennsylvania
5%acceptance · PA
Swarthmore College
7%acceptance · PA
Carnegie Mellon University
12%acceptance · PA
Haverford College
12%acceptance · PA
Lehigh University
26%acceptance · PA
Villanova University
27%acceptance · PA
Franklin & Marshall College
28%acceptance · PA
Bucknell University
29%acceptance · PA
See all Pennsylvania schools →

Similar to Dickinson College

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Dickinson College with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Dillard University, Furman University, and Howard University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Dillard University
42%acceptance · LA
Furman University
43%acceptance · SC
Howard University
41%acceptance · DC
Brandeis University
41%acceptance · MA
Millsaps College
43%acceptance · MS
Warner University
43%acceptance · FL

Frequently asked questions

What is Dickinson College's acceptance rate?

Dickinson College admitted 3,095 of 7,185 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 43.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 17% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Dickinson College?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1310 to 1460 on the SAT and 30 to 33 on the ACT. A score above 1460 is in the top quarter of admits. Dickinson College is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Dickinson College test-optional?

Yes. Dickinson College reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Dickinson College cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Dickinson College, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $37,607 a year against a sticker price of about $82,902. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $40,755 on average.

What do Dickinson College graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Dickinson College are $70,204 a year among students who received federal aid, and 80% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Dickinson College value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Dickinson College weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and character / personal qualities most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Dickinson College consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Dickinson College's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Dickinson College?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Dickinson College specifically.

Is Dickinson College a target or a reach for an average applicant?

For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near Dickinson College's admitted range, it generally reads as a target rather than a reach. Run your exact profile through the free calculator to see your personal verdict.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.