Dickinson College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 2,273 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes88
Value15
Affordability6
Selectivity88
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 42.1%, Dickinson College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
42.1%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1310 – 1460
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Dickinson College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Dickinson College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $37,607 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$37,607
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
13%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$65,650
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,100
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,100
Books & Supplies
$1,324
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,018
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,018
Total Cost of Attendance
$82,902
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$40,755
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,081
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,316
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,696
Over $110,000
$45,175
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$19,000Medianpercentile
$25,76075%percentile
$30,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,500
↓ $3,500
No Pell $19,000
—
Female students $18,400
↓ $600
Male students $16,250
↓ $2,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,187, less than completers ($19,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
88% of full-time students who enrolled at Dickinson College graduate within six years, and 90% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
88%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
90%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Dickinson College earn a median of $70,204 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$70,204
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$58,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$71,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,200, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
6.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Dickinson College is home to 2,273 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,273
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
12%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.6%1,513
International 12.0%273
Hispanic 7.6%173
Other 4.9%111
Asian 4.6%105
Black 3.6%82
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Dickinson College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityCarlisle, Pennsylvania
Housing
Strongly residential2,078 beds for 2,273 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Dickinson College offers
a varied set of programs:
38 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dickinson College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$715M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$89,153
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
221 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
56
25%
$108,436
Associate Professors
79
36%
$87,772
Assistant Professors
70
32%
$79,385
Instructors
12
5%
$65,533
Lecturers
1
0%
$58,000
No Rank
3
1%
$98,333
Pros & Cons of Dickinson College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Dickinson College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Dickinson College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dickinson College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Dickinson College.
Is Dickinson College hard to get into?
Dickinson College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 42.1%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Dickinson College?
Dickinson College has an acceptance rate of 42.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Dickinson College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Dickinson College scored between 1310 and 1460 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Dickinson College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Dickinson College scored between 30 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Dickinson College cost?
The average net price after aid at Dickinson College is $37,607 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Dickinson College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $70,204 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $37,607 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Dickinson College known for?
Dickinson College is best known for its programs in International Business, Economics, Political Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Dickinson College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Dickinson College are $70,204, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Dickinson College accredited?
Yes. Dickinson College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Dickinson College?
Dickinson College enrolls 2,273 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Dickinson College?
Dickinson College graduates 88% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Dickinson College a public or private college?
Dickinson College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Dickinson College located?
Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Dickinson College offer?
Dickinson College offers 38 distinct programs. The most popular include International Business, Economics, Political Science.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Dickinson College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dickinson College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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