Eligibility Guidelines

Your past education level will determine whether you are eligible for first-year or transfer admission. Candidates for first-year admission may apply via Dartmouth’s Early Decision, Regular Decision or QuestBridge match processes. See the following eligibility guidelines for each process to determine which process is most appropriate for you.

Early Decision Eligibility

  • Early Decision applicants are considered for first-year admission and may apply to other colleges concurrent with their application to Dartmouth.
  • Early Decision applicants must agree to the following conditions: if admitted to Dartmouth, Early Decision applicants must withdraw any applications to other colleges, and may not initiate any new applications to other colleges; if admitted to Dartmouth and provided with sufficient financial aid, Early Decision applicants must enroll at Dartmouth – regardless of any concurrent offers the applicant may have received from other colleges.
  • Early Decision applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility information at other colleges they are considering to ensure that submitting an early application to Dartmouth does not conflict with another college’s application requirements.
  • Students who have not matriculated at a college are eligible for first-year admission.
  • Students who have taken college coursework that is counting towards their high school graduation must apply for first-year admission. This includes students pursuing an associate's degree while finishing high school.
  • Students who have completed high school and have matriculated at a college, even if they have attended for one term or less, must apply for transfer admission.
  • Students who are not currently enrolled in school, or whose education has been interrupted, may apply for admission and often use the "Additional Information" portion of the application to provide background on their experiences and their educational path.
  • Students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent are not eligible for admission to Dartmouth.

Regular Decision Eligibility

  • Regular Decision applicants are considered for first-year admission and may apply to other colleges concurrent with their application to Dartmouth.
  • Students who have not matriculated at a college are eligible for first-year admission.
  • Students who have taken college coursework that is counting towards their high school graduation must apply for first-year admission. This includes students pursuing an associate's degree while finishing high school.
  • Students who have completed high school and have matriculated at a college, even if they have attended for one term or less, must apply for transfer admission.
  • Students who are not currently enrolled in school, or whose education has been interrupted, may apply for admission and often use the "Additional Information" portion of the application to provide background on their experiences and their educational path.
  • Students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent are not eligible for admission to Dartmouth.

Transfer Eligibility

  • Students who have matriculated at a college and who have completed two years or less of college coursework at the date of application are eligible for transfer admission.
  • Students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent are not eligible for admission to Dartmouth.
  • Students who have taken college coursework that is counting towards their high school graduation must apply for first-year admission. This includes students pursuing an associate's degree while finishing high school.
  • Students who are not currently enrolled in school, or whose education has been interrupted, may apply for admission and often use the "Additional Information" portion of the application to provide background on their experiences and their educational path.

QuestBridge Eligibility

  • QuestBridge applicants participating in the organization’s match process are considered for first-year admission.
  • In order to be eligible to apply to the National College Match through QuestBridge, applicants must plan to enroll as a freshman in college the following fall after the application cycle. Students who have previously earned a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and students who have completed high school and have matriculated at a college, even if they have attended for one term or less, are ineligible to apply through the QuestBridge process at Dartmouth.
  • If a QuestBridge match applicant matches with Dartmouth, the applicant must enroll at Dartmouth regardless of any concurrent offers the applicant may have received from other colleges; in addition, the applicant must withdraw any applications to other colleges, and may not initiate any new applications to other colleges.
  • QuestBridge applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility information at other colleges they are considering to ensure that submitting an early application to Dartmouth does not conflict with another college’s application requirements.
  • Students who have not matriculated at a college are eligible for first-year admission.
  • Students who have taken college coursework that is counting towards their high school graduation must apply for first-year admission. This includes students pursuing an associate's degree while finishing high school.
  • Students who are not currently enrolled in school, or whose education has been interrupted, may apply for admission and often use the "Additional Information" portion of the application to provide background on their experiences and their educational path.