Dartmouth Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Dartmouth College’s Class of 2029 shows an overall acceptance rate of about 6%, offering admission to 1,702 students out of 28,230 applicants.

Dartmouth extended its Early Decision (ED) offers to the Class of 2030 last December 2025, but the College has not released applicant totals or the acceptance rate. Administrators said the data will remain private until Regular Decision (RD) results are issued in March 2026 to avoid discouraging applicants.

In this blog, we’ll walk through Dartmouth’s latest available overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and see how they’ve changed over time.

• Dartmouth Acceptance Rates
• Dartmouth Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Dartmouth Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Dartmouth Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Dartmouth Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Dartmouth Acceptance Rates

Dartmouth’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 rose slightly to 6.03%, up from a record-low 5.40% for the Class of 2028. The increase was driven primarily by a drop in applications (from 31,656 to 28,230), while the number of admitted students remained nearly unchanged (1,710 vs. 1,702).

Dartmouth’s admissions data show a clear long-term increase in selectivity. Here’s a complete picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from Dartmouth’s Common Data Set.

For the Class of 2021, the College admitted 10.45% of applicants, but that figure steadily declined over the next several cycles. By the Class of 2023, the acceptance rate had fallen to 7.93%, and it dropped further to the low-6% range beginning with the Class of 2025.

The most selective year was for the Class of 2028, with a record-low 5.40% acceptance rate, driven by a surge to 31,656 applicants. Although the rate ticked up slightly to 6.03% for 2029, Dartmouth remains significantly more competitive than it was earlier in the decade.

Dartmouth Early Decision Acceptance Rate

The most recent ED data available come from the Class of 2029. Dartmouth reported 3,550 early applicants but did not disclose the number of students admitted, continuing its recent practice of withholding detailed early-round statistics.

For the Class of 2028, however, Dartmouth released full ED figures: 3,551 students applied, 606 were admitted, resulting in a 19.18% early acceptance rate.

Dartmouth Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Dartmouth’s early admission data reveal a steady rise in competitiveness over the past decade. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All ED data has been sourced from Dartmouth’s Common Data Set.

For the Class of 2021, the ED acceptance rate was comparatively generous at 28.26%, with 565 students admitted from 1,999 applicants. Since then, application volume has climbed sharply, reaching about 3,550 applicants for both the Classes of 2028 and 2029.

At the same time, early acceptance rates have declined significantly, from the mid-20% range (Class of 2022–2025) to 21.27% (Class of 2026), 19.94% (Class of 2027), and 19.18% (Class of 2028). Although Dartmouth has not yet released full early-round data for the Class of 2029, the long-term trend clearly points to increasing selectivity in the early round.

Still, Dartmouth’s early applicants have historically fared significantly better than those in the regular round.

Dartmouth Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2028, Dartmouth received 28,105 RD applications and admitted 1,029 students, resulting in a 3.66% RD acceptance rate. This represents a slight increase from the 4.63% RD rate for the Class of 2027.

Even with minor year-to-year fluctuations, Dartmouth’s RD round remains far more competitive than early admission, with fewer than 1 in 25 applicants earning a spot.

Dartmouth Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Here’s how Dartmouth’s RD rates have evolved throughout the years:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting ED data from overall totals in Dartmouth’s Common Data Set.

Dartmouth’s RD acceptance rates show a clear tightening over time. For the Class of 2021, Dartmouth admitted 8.47% of RD applicants, but that figure steadily declined in subsequent years. For the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024, rates fell to 6.14% and 7.40%, respectively, before dropping more sharply beginning with the Class of 2025.

From Class of 2025 onward, RD acceptance rates have remained below 5%, reaching 4.86% (Class of 2026), 4.63% (Class of 2027), and a low of 3.66% for the Class of 2028. Although Class of 2029 data remain incomplete, the broader pattern is Dartmouth’s RD round has become significantly more competitive.

Dartmouth Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Dartmouth transfer data comes from Fall 2024, with an acceptance rate of 6.65%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2024 transfer data is from Dartmouth’s Common Data Set for 2024-2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

Dartmouth’s Fall 2024 transfer acceptance rate was 6.65%, slightly higher than its 5.40% first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2028. Even so, both pathways remained highly selective, with rates in the mid-single digits.

Dartmouth Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data, from the Class of 2028, shows a 1.32% waitlist acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Waitlist data is gathered from Dartmouth’s latest Common Data Set.

For the Class of 2028, Dartmouth reported a 1.32% waitlist acceptance rate, underscoring how limited waitlist movement was that year. By comparison, the overall acceptance rate was 5.40%, meaning waitlisted students faced even steeper competition than the already selective general pool.

For a closer look at trends and strategies, explore our full guide to Dartmouth’s waitlist acceptance rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Dartmouth’s current acceptance rate?

The latest confirmed overall acceptance rate for Dartmouth is 6.03% for the Class of 2029. Out of 28,230 applicants, the College extended offers of admission to 1,702 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Dartmouth through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Historically, Dartmouth’s ED acceptance rate is higher than RD. For the Class of 2028, the early acceptance rate was 19.18%, about five times higher than 3.66% for RD. However, the early pool is typically very strong, and Dartmouth fills a large share of the class during this round.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Dartmouth?

The 6.65% transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2024 is higher than Dartmouth’s 5.40% overall first-year acceptance rate for that same year. Even so, transfer admission remains highly selective, with fewer than 1 in 15 applicants admitted.

4. What are my chances of getting off Dartmouth’s waitlist?

It depends on the year and Dartmouth’s enrollment needs, as waitlist movement can vary widely from cycle to cycle. For the Class of 2028, Dartmouth had a 1.32% waitlist acceptance rate, showing how limited and unpredictable this pathway can be.

5. Why is Dartmouth’s acceptance rate so low?

Dartmouth’s acceptance rate is low because applications far exceed its roughly 1,800 available seats. Strong financial aid and global prestige further fuel demand, keeping acceptance rates around 5–6%.

Takeaways

• Dartmouth’s acceptance rate has tightened significantly in recent years, dropping from 10.45% for the Class of 2021 to a low of 5.40% for the Class of 2028, before increasing slightly to 6.03% for the Class of 2029.
• Applying early offers a noticeable advantage. For the Class of 2028, the early acceptance rate was 19.18%, compared to 3.66% in RD, though the early pool typically includes many of the strongest applicants.
• Transfer and waitlist outcomes are even more unpredictable. In Fall 2024, Dartmouth’s transfer acceptance rate was 6.65%. For the Class of 2028, the waitlist acceptance rate was just 1.32%.
• Given this level of competition, presenting a thoughtful, well-crafted application is essential. Strategic preparation with a college admissions expert can help you strengthen your academic narrative, highlight your distinct contributions, and maximize your chances in Dartmouth’s selective process.