Dartmouth College

What is the accreditation of Dartmouth College?

Dartmouth College is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Institutional accreditation evaluates the college as a whole rather than certifying every degree for a particular occupation.

Some professional programs have separate oversight. Dartmouth's Bachelor of Engineering program holds accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the Geisel School of Medicine's medical education program is subject to accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Applicants to a regulated profession should verify the accreditation and licensing rules for the specific degree they intend to pursue.

Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not guarantee that another college will accept Dartmouth credits. A receiving institution decides how transferred coursework applies to its own requirements.

What are the admission requirements at Dartmouth College?

First-year admission to Dartmouth is highly selective and requires a substantial academic application. Applicants generally submit the Common Application or another application method accepted for their entry year, a secondary-school report and transcript, writing responses, and recommendations from a counselor and teachers. Dartmouth also encourages a peer recommendation, which is distinct from the required school recommendations.

Dartmouth reinstated an SAT or ACT requirement beginning with applicants for fall 2025 entry, so applicants should not rely on older descriptions of the college as test-optional. They should review the policy for their own entry year, including any testing exceptions and submission rules. The college does not publish a universal minimum GPA that assures consideration; the strength of coursework and performance is assessed in context. Applicants educated outside English-language instruction should check Dartmouth's current English-proficiency testing policy and any applicable exemptions.

Dartmouth offers binding Early Decision and Regular Decision rather than open admission. Binding Early Decision requires an admitted applicant to enroll, subject to the terms of that plan, and deserves particular attention from anyone comparing financial aid offers. In the reported admissions cohort, Dartmouth admitted 1,710 of 31,656 first-year applicants - about 5%. Among enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, the median SAT composite was 1500 and the median ACT composite was 34. Those medians describe enrolled test submitters, not an admissions cutoff.

What are the application fees and waivers at Dartmouth College?

Dartmouth's standard first-year undergraduate application fee is $80. Applicants who qualify for a fee waiver can request one through the application process instead of paying the fee; a waiver is an application-cost provision, not an admission preference or a tuition award.

Common Application fee-waiver eligibility includes circumstances indicating financial need, and Dartmouth provides its own route for applicants who need a waiver. Applicants should make the request while preparing the application so that payment does not delay submission. Transfer applicants should check the transfer application's displayed fee and waiver instructions, which may differ from first-year procedures. An application fee is separate from any enrollment deposit or later college charges.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Dartmouth College?

Army ROTC participation is available to Dartmouth students, with an on-campus Army ROTC presence reported for the college. ROTC is a military officer-training pathway taken alongside a degree, not an undergraduate major.

Interested students should establish with Dartmouth's Army ROTC contacts how enrollment, physical and medical standards, and required training fit the quarter calendar. ROTC scholarships have their own selection rules; accepting certain benefits or commissioning can create a service obligation. Applicants seeking Air Force or Navy ROTC should not assume that Dartmouth operates either branch locally and should verify any current cross-enrollment option directly with the relevant program.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Dartmouth College?

Dartmouth accepts applications from students who have enrolled in college after secondary school, with transfer entry offered for the fall. The transfer process is separate from first-year admission, and admission does not itself guarantee that every prior course will count toward a Dartmouth degree.

Transfer applicants should expect to provide records of both college and secondary-school study, instructor recommendations, required application writing, and any other materials specified for their cycle. Dartmouth reviews college coursework in the context of its own academic requirements; applicants should check the current testing policy and application deadline rather than assume first-year rules apply unchanged. The reported entering cohort included 32 transfer-in students, illustrating that transfer entry has been much smaller than first-year entry.

Dartmouth generally accepts appropriate coursework from other accredited institutions, but credit and degree applicability require an individual evaluation. A prospective transfer should ask how many terms must be completed at Dartmouth, whether courses satisfy major or distributive requirements, and how quarter-system credit will be calculated. The official evaluation following admission is more dependable than an informal comparison of course titles.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Dartmouth College?

Dartmouth offers academically structured study abroad, including its own Language Study Abroad and Foreign Study programs. These programs can let undergraduates study language, culture, or major-related subjects abroad while earning Dartmouth credit, typically with faculty and departmental oversight.

Options differ by destination, eligibility, prerequisites, and term. Some students may also pursue approved programs outside Dartmouth's directly operated offerings, but they should obtain academic approval before assuming outside courses will satisfy degree requirements. The D-Plan creates scheduling opportunities and constraints: an off-campus term must fit residence requirements, course sequencing, and a student's intended graduation date.

Financial aid treatment depends on the program and the student's award. Dartmouth's off-campus programs office and financial aid office are the appropriate places to confirm program charges, travel expenses, credit, and whether institutional aid follows a particular option.