Southern New Hampshire University vs Dartmouth College: which has better ROI?
Dartmouth College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,076 in 2.4 years versus 75 years at Southern New Hampshire University, on median earnings of $97,434 vs $50,318 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern New Hampshire University | Dartmouth College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,708 | $29,519 |
| Total net cost | $146,832 | $118,076 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,318 | $97,434 |
| Median debt | $21,082 | $17,500 |
| Payback | 75 yrs | 2.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$107,672 | $863,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southern New Hampshire University or Dartmouth College?
Dartmouth College, at $29,519 a year after aid versus $36,708 — a gap of $7,189 a year, or $28,756 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southern New Hampshire University or Dartmouth College graduates earn more?
Dartmouth College graduates report a median $97,434 ten years after entry, $47,116 more than the $50,318 at Southern New Hampshire University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Southern New Hampshire University or Dartmouth College?
Dartmouth College: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $21,082 at Southern New Hampshire University, a difference of $3,582. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at Dartmouth College, against 43% at Southern New Hampshire University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.