Dartmouth College, founded in 1769 in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the smallest Ivy League institution and one of the most undergraduate-focused universities in the United States. Dartmouth combines a liberal-arts education with graduate schools in business, engineering, medicine and the arts and sciences, but its identity is set by the undergraduate experience: small classes, close faculty contact, and a distinctive quarter system known as the D-Plan. Students at Dartmouth are known for a strong sense of community, outdoor life in New Hampshire's Upper Valley, and a tradition of undergraduate teaching that larger research universities rarely match.
Programmes offered
Dartmouth offers more than 60 majors and minors across the humanities, social sciences, sciences and engineering, with particular strengths in economics, government, biology, computer science, engineering and Native American and Indigenous studies. The D-Plan divides the year into four ten-week terms, and students choose which terms to spend on campus, on internships, on study abroad, or on research. That flexibility makes it easier to fit an internship or a term abroad into a four-year degree without delaying graduation. Graduate programmes include the Tuck School of Business, the Thayer School of Engineering, the Geisel School of Medicine and the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.
Fees and funding
Dartmouth's total cost of attendance for 2026-27 is reported at roughly US$95,000 to US$100,000 per year including tuition, housing, food and fees — confirm the exact figure on Dartmouth's official cost page, as published totals vary by source and year. Dartmouth meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students with grant-based aid, and it is need-blind for US citizens and permanent residents; international applicants should check the current financial-aid policy for their citizenship category on the official website. Budget separately for travel to New Hampshire, winter clothing and personal expenses.
Admissions and deadlines
Dartmouth accepts the Common Application with Early Decision, typically 1 November, and Regular Decision, typically 2 January — confirm the exact dates for your entry year. Applicants submit transcripts, a counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations, the personal statement and Dartmouth's supplemental essays, which include a short essay on why Dartmouth. Dartmouth requires standardised test scores for the current cycle unless an applicant qualifies for an exception, so check the current testing policy before applying. International students normally show English proficiency through IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo.
Campus life and careers
Hanover is a small college town on the Connecticut River, and Dartmouth's campus life is shaped by its setting: hiking, skiing and the Dartmouth Outing Club are central to student culture, alongside a large Greek system, performing arts and student publications. The D-Plan means the campus population changes each term, which some students love for its variety and others find less settled than a semester system. Dartmouth graduates are strongly represented in finance, consulting, technology, medicine, public service and academia, and the alumni network is famously loyal and active in mentoring current students.
Frequently asked questions
What is the D-Plan? Dartmouth's quarter system of four ten-week terms, letting students choose when to study on campus, intern, travel or research.
Is Dartmouth need-blind for international students? Dartmouth is need-blind for US citizens and permanent residents; international applicants should confirm the current policy on the official financial aid page.
Does Dartmouth require test scores? Dartmouth requires standardised test scores for most applicants in the current cycle, with limited exceptions — check the current policy before applying.
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Sources and verification: Dartmouth admissions and financial aid pages (2026-27 costs and 2027-28 deadlines to be confirmed on dartmouth.edu).