Daniel Webster famously described Dartmouth College as follows during a landmark 1819 SCOTUS case: “It is, Sir, as I have said, a small college and yet there are those who love it.” And love it they do! Over 200 years later, Webster’s words ring true in light of record-setting admissions cycles in which unprecedented numbers of students vie for their chance to enter this prestigious College on the Hill. The applicants who mean business tend to apply through the Early Decision program, a binding early application round for those who know that Dartmouth is their #1 school and are ready to commit as soon as possible.

The Dartmouth Acceptance Rates Over 21+ Years

Class Year	Overall Accept. Rate	Regular Decision Accept. Rate	Regular Decision Apps Accepted	Regular Decision Apps Received	Early Decision / Action Accept. Rate	Percent of Class Filled by Early Apps	Early Decision / Action Apps Received	Early Decision / Action Apps Accepted	Expected Number of Students to Enroll	Total Apps Received	Total Apps Accepted
2027	6.07%	4.54%	1,173	25,832	19.21%	50.26%	3,009	578	1,150	28,841	1,751
2026	6.24%	4.70%	1,207	25,703	21.27%	48.70%	2,633	560	1,150	28,336	1,767
2025	6.20%	4.50%	1,158	25,693	21.20%	51.40%	2,664	591	1,150	28,357	1,749
2024	8.80%	6.90%	1,334	19,325	26.40%	47.60%	2,069	547	1,150	21,394	1,881
2023	7.90%	6.10%	1,302	21,176	23.20%	49.90%	2,474	574	1,150	23,650	1,876
2022	8.70%	6.90%	1,360	19,763	24.90%	49.10%	2,270	565	1,150	22,033	1,925
2021	10.40%	8.50%	1,537	18,035	27.80%	47%	1,999	555	1,180	20,034	2,092
2020	10.50%	9.00%	1,682	18,748	25.60%	44.10%	1,927	494	1,120	20,675	2,176
2019	10.30%	8.80%	1,637	18,645	26%	43.10%	1,859	483	1,120	20,504	2,120
2018	11.50%	9.90%	1,751	17,618	27.90%	42.30%	1,678	469	1,110	19,296	2,220
2017	10.00%	8.60%	1,788	20,842	29.40%	41.40%	1,574	464	1,120	22,416	2,252
2016	9.40%	8.00%	1,715	21,310	25.80%	42.10%	1,800	465	1,105	23,110	2,180
2015	9.70%	8.40%	1,734	20,626	25.20%	40.40%	1,759	444	1,100	22,385	2,178
2014	11.50%	9.90%	1,704	17,184	25.50%	42.30%	1,594	461	1,090	18,778	2,165
2013	12%	10.80%	1,783	16,559	25.50%	35%	1,571	401	1,090	18,130	2,184
2012	13.20%	11.80%	1,790	15,108	28.00%	36.70%	1,428	400	1,090	16,536	2,190
2011	15.30%	13.80%	1,785	12,891	29.60%	35.20%	1,285	380	1,080	14,176	2,165
2010	15.40%	13.90%	1,752	12,620	30.20%	37%	1,317	398	1,075	13,937	2,150
2009	16.90%	15.10%	1,753	11,586	33.90%	36.90%	1,171	397	1,075	12,757	2,150
2008	18.30%	16.80%	1,759	10,455	30%	35.40%	1,278	384	1,085	11,733	2,143
2007	17.70%	16%	1,705	10,636	32.40%	37%	1,217	394	1,065	11,853	2,099

Debunking Early Decision at Dartmouth: It’s Not (Just) For the Rich and Privileged

Sure, the Early Decision applicant pool at Dartmouth is full of legacy applicants, recruited athletes, and development cases (i.e., the children of major donors), and all of these groups experience admissions advantages. But guess what? So does anyone else who applies Early Decision! A major misconception about ED admissions is that it exclusively benefits rich and privileged students and that the Regular Decision round is when other highly sought-after applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, including underrepresented minorities, first-generation to go to college, and low-income applicants experience an advantage of their own. 

The truth is that anyone who applies ED will be able to reap these benefits. And for those who might argue that it’s difficult for low-income students to commit to a school they might not afford, we direct you to Dartmouth’s financial aid Net Price Calculator. This tool, designed to make Dartmouth’s affordability transparent, is accessible to any applicant who wishes to compare it to other schools. By plugging in your family’s finances, you can get a highly accurate estimate of costs, reassuring you about the affordability of Dartmouth. 

But let’s say you get in through the ED round, and a financial setback disrupts your ability to commit. Are you locked into a deal you can no longer afford? No! This is one of the few exceptions to ED’s binding commitment. In other words, those who argue that ED is exclusively for the rich and privileged don’t have any leg to stand on. All the effort they expend to curtail ED at places like Dartmouth would be better spent getting the word out to disadvantaged applicants that applying Early gives them the best shot at securing admission to this special little school.

Why do Early Decision Applicants Get an Admissions Boost at Dartmouth?

We’re glad you asked! Consider it: Early Decision applicants know that Dartmouth is the place for them, so much so that they’ve staked their futures on it! Once they get in, they almost always have to enroll. This means ED applicants drive up yield rate — a metric that Dartmouth deeply cares about despite what they may claim to the contrary because it indirectly influences the US News & World Report rankings. It’s cynical, but it’s true. 

With slightly less cynicism in mind, consider that admissions officers at Dartmouth want to fill their campus with enthusiastic students who are happy to call Dartmouth home. Wouldn’t you rather curate an incoming class from the students who can’t wait to call themselves members of the Big Green than those who were unsure at first? It should come as no surprise that the ED acceptance rate at Dartmouth far exceeds the Regular Decision acceptance rate for this very reason. 

Take it from Ivy Coach, The Dartmouth Whisperer: apply Early if Dartmouth is your top choice school! By doing so, you’ll not only increase your chances of admission but also contribute to the vibrant and diverse community that makes Dartmouth so special.