What is Dartmouth College’s QS ranking? Overview of Ivy League Dartmouth’s Programmes and Admission Requirements

Founded in 1769, Dartmouth College is one of the eight esteemed Ivy League universities in the United States. Renowned for its rich academic heritage and intimate, small-group teaching model, Dartmouth offers a uniquely personal educational experience. In the following overview, the Grove Education team outlines Dartmouth College’s QS ranking, most popular academic programmes, and key admission requirements — providing aspiring students with valuable insights into this distinguished institution.

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The Ivy League is a prestigious group of eight elite universities located in the northeastern United States. These include Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Cornell University, and Dartmouth College.

The term "Ivy League" has become synonymous with academic excellence and elite education. Each of these institutions boasts a rich history spanning centuries, a distinguished global reputation, and highly competitive admissions — making them the dream destination for many ambitious students.

Further Reading: Which Ivy League Universities Are There? Ranking and Tuition Introduction of U.S. Ivy League Universities

Dartmouth College maintains a student population of around 6,000, making it the smallest among the Ivy League institutions. This is a direct result of the College’s strong commitment to small-group teaching, which places emphasis on personalised learning and close student–faculty interaction.

The average class size ranges from 16 to 20 students, with over 65% of courses enrolling fewer than 20 students. Most classes also have strict enrolment caps to preserve the intimate scale of learning. This approach ensures that students benefit from a more tailored and engaging academic experience. 

You may have noticed that while Dartmouth College consistently ranks among the top 15 in the U.S. News National University Rankings (placing 15th in 2025)[1], its position in the QS World University Rankings appears relatively modest. In fact, Dartmouth’s QS ranking has remained between 150 and 200 in recent years, dropping from 191 in 2022 to 243 in 2025[2].

The discrepancy between Dartmouth College’s QS World Ranking and its domestic standing in the United States stems from its distinctive educational model. While Dartmouth does offer postgraduate programmes in fields such as engineering and medicine, it functions primarily as a liberal arts college with a strong undergraduate focus — dedicating approximately 80% of its resources to undergraduate teaching.

This “quality over quantity” approach may impact its performance in global ranking metrics, yet it has cultivated an exceptional undergraduate education system and earned Dartmouth a strong reputation within the United States. 

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As a private liberal arts research university, Dartmouth College combines the breadth of a liberal arts education with the academic rigour of a research institution. This distinctive model allows Dartmouth to offer both strong undergraduate programmes and a solid record of research output. Its most popular areas of study include Economics, Social Sciences, Engineering, Biology, and Psychology. The College offers over 40 undergraduate majors and is home to four professional graduate schools: the Geisel School of Medicine, the Thayer School of Engineering, the Tuck School of Business, and the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

The Tuck School of Business ranks among the top 22 business schools in the United States according to the QS 2025 rankings. Its MBA programme is renowned for its practical, experience-based learning approach. Meanwhile, the Thayer School of Engineering pioneered the "Dartmouth Plan," a flexible academic structure that allows students to design their own global study schedule — a feature that attracts many interdisciplinary talents.

It is also worth noting that, although Dartmouth’s Computer Science department does not currently rank in the global top ten, it holds a special place in the history of modern computing. Dartmouth was the birthplace of the BASIC programming language, co-developed by former College President John George Kemeny — a figure of historical importance in the evolution of computer science.

Dartmouth College’s acceptance rate has steadily declined over the past five years — from 8.79% in 2020 to just 5.32% in 2024. In the last three years, its admission rate has consistently remained below 7%. In 2024, the number of applicants reached a record high of 31,657 — a 48% increase compared to 21,394 applicants in 2020 — reflecting Dartmouth’s growing popularity among prospective students.[3]

Students interested in applying to Dartmouth should take note that the Early Decision round typically offers a higher acceptance rate than Regular Decision. According to Dartmouth’s official admissions data, for students admitted in Autumn 2024 (Class of 2028), the Regular Decision acceptance rate was 3.85%, while the Early Decision acceptance rate stood at 17%.[4]

Dartmouth places strong emphasis on “interdisciplinary potential” and adopts a holistic admissions approach. This means that, beyond academic performance, the university evaluates qualities such as character, leadership, and a sense of social responsibility. Applicants should prepare the following: academic transcripts from the past three years of secondary school or highest qualification attained, financial documentation, a personal statement, a CV, and letters of recommendation. The personal statement should highlight the applicant’s personality, potential, and areas of interest.[5]

International applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. Although Dartmouth does not impose minimum score requirements, most successful applicants score above 7.0 on the IELTS or over 100 on the TOEFL — which may be viewed as benchmark scores by the admissions team.[6]

For students applying with SAT scores, it is important to note that the middle 50% score range for the Class of 2028 was 1480–1560. (The SAT is a standardised test for U.S. university admissions and is also open to international students. A score above 1400 is typically considered competitive for top universities such as Harvard, Yale, and MIT.)[7]

Students interested in applying with HKDSE results are encouraged to consult our professional admissions counselling team for personalised guidance.

Further Reading: What Does the SAT Cover? An Overview of SAT Exam Content, Full Score, and Preparation Strategies

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This article has explored Dartmouth College’s distinctive features, popular programmes, and admission requirements. While its QS ranking may not place it at the very top globally, Dartmouth’s academic excellence and reputation remain undisputed. For students who value small-group learning and a high standard of teaching, Dartmouth represents an outstanding choice.

If you are considering applying to Dartmouth College, Grove Education’s expert admissions team is here to support you. We will tailor a personalised application strategy to help you unlock the door to this prestigious institution. 

Reference:

1. US News Rankings |2025 Best National Universities 

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities?schoolName=Dartmouth+College&_sort=rank&_sortDirection=asc  

2. QS World University Rankings 2025：Top Global Universities | Top Universities 

https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings?search=Dartmouth%20College  

3.Top Tier Admissions | Dartmouth Admissions Acceptance Rates & Statistics 

https://toptieradmissions.com/resources/college-acceptance-rates/dartmouth-college-acceptance-rates/  

4. The Dartmouth - Dartmouth offers early admission to first members of Class of 2029  

https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2024/12/dartmouth-offers-early-admission-to-first-members-of-class-of-2029  

5. Dartmouth Admissions | Application Advice 

https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/application-advice  

6. Dartmouth Admissions | If English is not my first language, am I required to submit a language proficiency test?  

https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/glossary-question/if-english-not-my-first-language-am-i-required-submit-language-proficiency-test  

7. Odyssey College Prep | Dartmouth SAT Requirements Admissions Guide 

https://www.odysseycollegeprep.com/dartmouth-sat-requirements-admissions-guide/