Dartmouth College's Acceptance Results for the Class of 2029
Arkesh P.
Chief Operating Officer
Summary
Dartmouth has completed the admissions cycle for the Class of 2029 as of Ivy Day, March 27, 2025. Out of 28,230 applicants to the Class of 2029, Dartmouth has admitted 1,702 students, resulting in a 6% acceptance rate this year alongside a roughly 11% drop in the number of applicants. This fluctuation coincides with Dartmouth's decision last year to reinstate SAT/ACT test requirements for admissions.
Based on the new numbers released by Dartmouth, this year's overall acceptance rate is up slightly, compared to last year's record low of 5.3%.
Early Decision application numbers remained robust, but Dartmouth is withholding ED acceptance rate figures, leaving observers to rely on overall acceptance rate figures.
Based on what Dartmouth is reporting and current estimates, here is a detailed breakdown with analysis and insights to help prospective applicants understand Dartmouth's evolving admissions landscape.
Dartmouth's Recent Overall Acceptance Rates by Year
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Applicants | 28,230 | 31,657 | 28,841 |
| Number of Acceptances | 1,702 | 1,685 | 1,798 |
| Acceptance Rate | 6% | 5.3% | 6.2% |
Key Trends and Insights
- Dartmouth is not reporting ED admissions data, preventing a full assessment of the school's level of selectivity.
- The estimated acceptance rate of 6% is roughly consistent with a larger four-year trend revealing elevated application numbers, and acceptance rates hovering around 6%, including a record-low 5.3% for the Class of 2028 (last year).
- The total number of applicants decreased this year, by nearly 11% — likely due in part to reinstated testing requirements.
Broader Admissions Trends:
- Consistently High Selectivity: For the past four years, Dartmouth has remained highly selective, with acceptance rates remaining at or below 6.2%.
- Pandemic-Era Rise in Applications: Applications increased over 30% beginning with the Class of 2025 (surging from 21,394 to 28,357 applications), with the acceptance rate dropping two full percentage points.
- ED Advantage: While overall application numbers dropped 11% this year, ED applications remained at a record-high for the second year in a row. Dartmouth has not reported an ED acceptance rate for the Class of 2029, but based on recent data, ED applicants enjoy a significant statistical edge, with recent ED acceptance rates ranging between 17–20%.
- Fluctuations Influenced by External Factors: Acceptance rates and application totals can vary due to external influences such as policy changes, global events (e.g., COVID-19), or targeted recruitment efforts. Noteworthy for Dartmouth is last year's reinstatement of SAT/ACT testing mandates following a pandemic-era test-optional policy.
Admission to Dartmouth remains extremely competitive, but based on recent-year data, ED applicants are likely to still enjoy remarkably higher statistical acceptance rates. Whether applying in the early or regular round, applicants should focus on standing out in academics, service, and leadership while pursuing authentic personal, scholarly, and intellectual passions and interests — all with an eye to presenting a unique and exceptional applicant profile.
Dartmouth’s Early Decision Acceptance Results
Although Dartmouth isn’t reporting ED results for the Class of 2029, recent-year ED data offer a guide for estimating this year's ED rate.
In recent years, Dartmouth's ED acceptance rate has ranged between 17–21% but has been decreasing steadily, if incrementally, year-over-year for at least the past five years.
This year the number of ED applications matched last year's record high. Last year ED applications rose sharply, by 18% from the prior year's figure, which itself represented a 14% increase from the previous year.
Three years ago, Dartmouth received 2,633 ED applications (Class of 2026 applicants), last year and again this year, the number of ED applicants hit 3,550.
Early Decision Acceptance Rate Data for Dartmouth
| * Estimated pending release of data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | |
| Total ED Applications | 3,500 | 3,500 | 3,009 | 2,633 |
| Number Accepted | 637* | 604 | 578 | 530 |
| % of Students Admitted Under ED | 37.2%* | 35.3% | 32.1% | 30.5% |
| ED Acceptance Rate | 18.2%* | 17.0% | 19.2% | 20.1% |
Dartmouth ED acceptance rates reveal a significant statistical advantage for applicants able to apply before the early-round deadline and willing to accept the binding nature of the ED policy.
The data also show that the ED applicant pool has been growing steadily in recent years and remained elevated this year.
- Higher Acceptance Rates: Early-round applicants typically enjoy higher acceptance rates compared to Regular Decision applicants.
- Demonstrated Interest: Applying early shows Dartmouth your strong interest in joining their academic community.
Dartmouth's Regular Decision Acceptance Results
Regular Decision Acceptance Rate Data for Dartmouth
| * Estimated pending release of data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | |
| Total RD Applications | 24,680* | 28,106 | 25,832 | 25,703 |
| Number Accepted | 1,069* | 1,106 | 1,220 | 1,207 |
| RD Acceptance Rate | 4.3%* | 3.94% | 4.72% | 4.70% |
The RD acceptance rate is estimated to be close to 4% based on available data and recent-year trends. Our estimation is that Regular Decision applicants to Dartmouth's Class of 2029 were evaluated within an extremely selective environment, despite a presumed drop of roughly 11% in total RD applications.
Historical Trends
Historical Acceptance Rates at Dartmouth
| * Estimated pending release of data | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of | Total Applications | Total Accepted | Overall Acceptance Rate | RD Acceptance Rate | ED Acceptance Rate |
| 2029 | 28,230 | 1,702 | 6% | 4.3%* | 18.2%* |
| 2028 | 31,657 | 1,685 | 5.3% | 3.85% | 17.0% |
| 2027 | 28,841 | 1,798 | 6.2% | 4.72% | 19.2% |
| 2026 | 28,336 | 1,737 | 6.1% | 4.70% | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 28,357 | 1,749 | 6.2% | 4.60% | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 21,394 | 1,860 | 8.7% | 6.90% | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 23,650 | 1,876 | 7.9% | 6.15% | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 22,033 | 1,925 | 8.7% | 6.88% | 24.9% |
| 2021 | 20,034 | 2,092 | 10.4% | 8.52% | 27.8% |
| 2020 | 20,675 | 2,176 | 10.5% | 8.97% | 25.6% |
These historical data demonstrate a broad trend of overall increasing selectivity, including highly competitive RD acceptance rates even though RD application numbers declined this year as Dartmouth reinstated a test-mandatory admissions policy.
- Academic Excellence: Maintaining top grades in rigorous courses and a high GPA are crucial to get into Dartmouth.
- Strong Essays: Use your Dartmouth essays to showcase your unique voice and story.
- Leadership and Extracurriculars: Demonstrate meaningful engagement outside the classroom through active participation in challenging extracurriculars.
- Test Scores: If submitting, aim for high SAT or ACT scores within or above Dartmouth's reported range.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations to the students admitted to Dartmouth's Class of 2029 — your achievement reflects remarkable dedication and excellence.
For students aspiring to get into Dartmouth, strategic preparation guided by a personally-tailored roadmap is essential. Be sure to check out our full guide on how to get into Dartmouth!
Crimson Education specializes in helping ambitious students navigate this challenging process, offering them informed guidance so they can build compelling applications that reflect their authentic strengths and passions.
If you're interested in Dartmouth College or other top universities, schedule a free feedback session with a Crimson expert. It's a great first step in charting a more confident path to success.
