Would you like a second shot at choosing your alma mater? Dartmouth College might be the school for you to make this upgrade. Every year, Dartmouth admits transfer applicants, who enrich student life at this private research university with their unconventional life stories and diverse backgrounds. And you might be surprised to learn that transfer students are often admitted to Dartmouth at a higher rate than first-year students! How could this be? We’ll take a look at the historical transfer acceptance rate over the years and unpack exactly where the admissions boost for transfer applicants at Dartmouth College comes from.

The Historical Transfer Acceptance Rate at Dartmouth (2026 – 2012)

Dartmouth College Admission Cycle	Total Transfer Applications	Transfer Applications Accepted	Transfer Acceptance Rate	First-Year Acceptance Rate
2025-2026	TBD	TBD	TBD	5.80%
2024-2025	689	68	9.87%	6.00%
2023-2024	932	62	6.65%	5.41%
2022-2023	768	12	1.56%	6.07%
2021-2022	599	44	7.35%	6.24%
2020-2021	435	43	9.89%	6.20%
2019-2020	273	78	28.57%	8.80%
2018-2019	584	24	4.11%	7.90%
2017-2018	736	11	1.49%	8.70%
2016-2017	829	4	0.48%	10.40%
2015-2016	685	32	4.67%	10.50%
2014-2015	751	29	3.86%	10.30%
2013-2014	679	19	2.80%	11.50%
2012-2013	683	57	8.35%	10.00%
2011-2012	799	30	3.75%	9.40%

The chart above, compiled from historical Common Data Set data published online by Dartmouth admissions officers, demonstrates that transfer applicants to Dartmouth often earn admission at a higher acceptance rate than first-year applicants. Over the past ten years, transfer applicants have earned admission at a higher rate than regular applicants 50% of the time. While it’s not always the case that transfers are given an elusive admissions boost, it’s pretty remarkable that this special class of applicants occasionally reach acceptance rates as high as nearly 30% (such as was the case during the 2019-2020 admission cycle, compared to a first year acceptance rate that year of 8.8%).

Why Dartmouth Respects Transfer Applicants

There’s a specific set of reasons why Dartmouth admissions officers don’t disregard their transfer applicants and sometimes even admit them at astoundingly high rates. It all comes down to two key facts. The first is that transfers contribute to the diversity of the student body because of their unconventional life paths, underrepresented minority statuses, low-income and first-generation statuses, and experience in America’s armed services. Not every transfer applicant falls into one of these categories, but many do, and they thus enrich student life at the school they transfer into and round out the student body.

The second reason Dartmouth respect their transfer applicants is that these unique students are data ghosts. And what’s a data ghost? It’s someone with a lackluster academic profile who can be admitted to an elite school without adversely impacting that school’s institutional metrics. Whereas the academic data of all first-year students must be reported to the Common Data Set, and this data is subsequently used to determine everything from college rankings to third-party accreditation, transfer students aren’t factored into this process. Admissions officers can thus admit them without worrying that their B average or poor SAT score will show up on paper.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance With Transfer Admission to Dartmouth College

Ivy Coach’s very own Ben Schwartz, a former Dartmouth College admissions officer, has facilitated many a successful Dartmouth transfer admissions process. If you are the parent of a student eyeing Dartmouth as their alma mater via transfer, we would love to optimize their odds of admission. And if you’re a veteran of the American armed services considering a transfer to Dartmouth (did you know that the late former Dartmouth President James Wright authored the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill?), we are pleased to offer pro bono services reserved exclusively for veterans.

To get started with us, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch with an outline of services.