Dartmouth College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Dartmouth College charges a net price of $29,519/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $118,076. Graduates earn a median $97,434 ten years after entry, $49,074/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2.4 years — a 20-year net return of $863,404, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Dartmouth College's 2.4-year payback ranks #112 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 91% of them, and #2 of 20 in New Hampshire.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $29,519/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $118,076 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $97,434 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $49,074/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $17,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $863,404 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Dartmouth College's own numbers. Net price $29,519 × 4 years = $118,076 total. Median earnings $97,434 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $49,074 a year of premium. $118,076 ÷ $49,074 = 2.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $863,404. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Dartmouth College students graduate with?
A median $17,500 in federal loans among completers, or 18% of the $97,434 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Dartmouth College students graduate?
96% finish their degree. Spread the $118,076 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $122,996 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Dartmouth College expensive compared with other New Hampshire colleges?
Its $29,519 net price runs $10,906 above the $18,614 median across the 20 New Hampshire colleges we profile, or $43,622 more across the full degree.