Affordability at Dartmouth

A photo of Dartmouth students outside on the porch of Collis

Learn more about the many ways students are finding the Dartmouth experience to be an affordable one:

Explore the profiles of some of our students on the Connect With A Student page and email them with any questions you have about their experience such as life at Dartmouth, classes, or clubs.

What does that mean?

The college admissions process involves terminology you might not encounter anywhere else. On this page we are sharing some words and phrases that might be new to you. Use our full online glossary to learn additional admissions words and phrases.

Need-Blind

Need-blind is an admissions decision made without knowledge of an applicant's financial need.

Dartmouth's admissions policy is "need-blind" for all applicants, regardless of citizenship. This means that applications are reviewed and accepted based solely on a student's qualifications, and not on their ability to pay. Once the Admissions office has selected the students it intends to admit to Dartmouth, the Financial Aid Office determines each student's need, and awards financial aid accordingly.

Fee Waiver

If paying the application fee would cause unusual financial hardship for you or your family, you may be eligible for a waiver. Requesting a fee waiver will not disadvantage your candidacy in any way.

To request a fee waiver via the Common App, you have two options:

Select "yes" in response to the fee waiver question within the fee/fee waiver section of the Common Application. Your school counselor must approve your fee waiver request electronically through the Common App or via email.
Select "yes" in response to the pre-approved fee waiver question within the Dartmouth Questions section of the Common App.

To request a fee waiver via the Dartmouth Transfer Application:

Select "yes" in response to the fee waiver question within the fee/fee waiver section of the application.
Select from a list of criteria within the fee/fee waiver section of the application.

Liberal Arts Curriculum

Dartmouth is—fundamentally and enthusiastically—an institution devoted to the liberal arts, but the term "liberal arts" is often misunderstood.

A simple way to explain the liberal arts would be to replace the words "liberal arts" in "liberal arts curriculum" with "multidisciplinary." A more thorough description of what our multidisciplinary curriculum involves, and the many benefits it offers, can be found in the work of Dartmouth professor Cecelia Gaposchkin, who has written extensively about the topic in the Huffington Post, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and in 3D, our own admissions magazine.

Special Circumstances

Life is complicated.

Sometimes family or personal circumstances can impact your academic credentials or alter your perspective. You may wish to relay information about family or personal circumstances either through your Personal Statement or in the Additional Information section of the Common App.

Examples of Special Circumstances

Moving multiple times during high school
Care-giving responsibilities
Significant out-of-the-home work responsibilities
Significant educational interruptions
Course offering limitations
Other circumstances that have caused you to have a different course schedule or different academic options than your classmates

It is up to you whether to share information about your special circumstances. If you decide to, we suggest you seek the advice of your counselor to find the best method to concisely convey information that will be helpful to your application.

Admissions Beat Podcast

"...there's a lot of families out there wrestling with that same urgency of honoring the aspirations of a high achieving student, or even more broadly, a student who sees a future that leads to a bachelor's degree. And the cost of attendance for many families is a non-negotiable part of the search and sometimes a non-starter for student choice."

- Lee Coffin, Dartmouth's vice president for admissions and financial aid

On this episode of the Admissions Beat podcast, Dartmouth's vice president and veteran dean of admissions, Lee Coffin—a first-generation college student himself—talks with two financial aid experts about how to interpret and translate the language of financial aid. A transcript is available for this episode.

The Language of Financial Aid

Dartmouth 4E Fund

In addition to traditional financial aid that enables undergraduate students to attend Dartmouth, we are fortunate to make available supplemental funds supported by our endowment. These funds are used to help ease the expenses of essential items (medical co-pays and deductibles, computer repairs), enrichment items (GRE/MCAT/LSAT test prep, graduate applications, professional interview clothing), experiences (extracurricular activities), and emergency costs (emergency travel). Visit the 4E web page to learn more.

Estimate What Dartmouth Might Cost For You

Many students don't pay the sticker pricce to attend college. Wondering what it might cost you to attend Dartmouth? Our MyinTuition calculator can help. In less than five minutes, answer six questions and receive a range of what Dartmouth might cost for you.

Dartmouth In Video

Your Potential Is What Matters

At Dartmouth, we believe that financial barriers shouldn’t stand in the way of your education. That's why we have a need-blind admissions policy, meaning we review your application based on your achievements, talents, and character—without considering your financial situation. Dartmouth meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, regardless of citizenship. We’re committed to making a Dartmouth education affordable for you.

A photo from the From Dartmouth to the World video

From Dartmouth to the World—Financial Aid Travels With You

At Dartmouth, financial aid travels with you! Students receiving need-based financial aid pay the same net price for a term on a Dartmouth off-campus study program as they would for a term in Hanover. Dartmouth is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, regardless of citizenship. We’re committed to making a Dartmouth education affordable for you.

A photo of Aiden Cole '28 and his family

Dartmouth's Affordability Expands Access

At Dartmouth, students whose families have a total annual income below $125,000 and typical assets can expect to receive a financial aid package that includes no responsibility for a parent contribution. This made Aiden Cole ’28’s dream of Dartmouth be a reality, removing the financial burden for his family.