Dartmouth or Cornell: Which is a better Ivy League?

Dartmouth College vs Cornell University

Dartmouth College is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the USA. Students can choose from over 60 majors. Popular majors according to 2020 graduates include economics, government, computer science, engineering sciences, and biology. Dartmouth College follows a highly selective admissions policy with an acceptance rate at 6.2%.Cornell University is one of the top 25 universities in the world according to multiple recognized ranking agencies. The university has been continuously outweighing several top universities in the world in academics through its unique and comprehensive curriculum.

Overview Comparison
Dartmouth CollegeCornell University
Collegedunia Score5.9 Out of 107.9 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 180 Times Higher Education 2026
# 247 QS World University 2026
# 45 Center for World University Rankings 2025
# 16 QS World University 2026
# 18 Times Higher Education 2026
# 14 Center for World University Rankings 2025
Subject Strength# 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025
# 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 12 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 15 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025
# 31 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -43
PG Programs -11
Doctorate Programs -4
UG Programs -64
PG Programs -70
Doctorate Programs -78
Acceptance Rate6.2 %8.0 %
Exam ScoreIELTS-7
SAT-1430
TOEFL-100
GMAT-720
IELTS-7.5
TOEFL-100
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   73178
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  53052
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 10362 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   58586
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  20800
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 44182 Per Year
placement (average package)

Graduate Employability Rankings (2020): 161-160.
95% of international MBA graduates were accepted in various job roles. (class 2019).
Top Paying degrees: MBA- $124,000. Masters of Management- $95,000. Masters (other)- $86,000. BSc.- 82,000


Cornell University is one of the top private universities in Ithaca, United States. It is ranked #20 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

  • Doctorate : $168,000 
  • Masters in Finance : $150,000 
  • MBA : $145,000 
  • Executive MBA: $139,000 
  • Masters in Science : $123,000 
  • PhD : $120,000 


application requirements

Interviews are conducted for most UG programs as well. Personal essay is required along with UG applications. 
Applications are accepted through Common App application portal.

Counselor recommendation, teacher evaluation, and midyear evaluations are mandatory along with the applications. 

Campuses and B-SchoolsTuck School of Business
Johnson Graduate School of Management
CollegeDunia Reviews8.5/10 Read 4 reviews7.7/10 Read 11 reviews
General Facts Comparison
General FactsDartmouth CollegeCornell University
Type of UniversityCollege
University
Established1769
1865
Student:Faculty Ratio7:1
9:1
Male:Female51% Male, 49% Female48% Male, 52% Female
Location Facts

Located in Hanover, a rural town in New Hamshire, in the upper valley with Connecticut River. The Appalachian Trails run through the campus. Located in a pastoral setting with mountain vistas and towering pines, Dartmouth college offers is renowned for its picturesque location. 


University has 6 campuses; Main campus is located in Ithaca, New York; Other campuses are in Roosevelt Island, Qatar, Geneva, Washington DC and Rome


Library

The college has seven libraries, Bery-Bery Library is the main library holding a collection of over 2 million volumes. Hosts collections like special art collection, East Asian Room, Ray Nash Collection, Robert Frost collection, Theodor Geisel Collection, etc 


11th largest library in USA; Over 8 million printed volumes, 1 million ebooks, 120,000 periodical titles, 8.5 million microfilms and microfiches, 71,000 cubic feet of manuscripts, 500,000 other materials such as motion pictures, sound recordings, etc. 


Campus Life

The campus life offer 35 division I varsity teams and 33 sports clubs, over 160 groups and organizations for UG students, graduate student organization offers other activities and societies to join. The College has a Hopkins Center for Arts, a museum, and a Black Family Visual Arts Center. Religious fraternities and sororities are also available for joining. The College has its own newspaper. You can also join the outing club. Grab food at various on-campus cafes. 


Over 1,000 student organizations; awards and funding by Student and Campus Life (SCL) such as Cornell Commitment, Public Service Center, Cornell Career Services, Merrill Presidential Scholars Program, etc. 


Hostel#On campus - $10362
#Triple Room - $11312
#Double Room - $12296
#Single Room - $13246
Famous Alumni

Dr. Suess (author), Daniel Webster (Former Secretary of State), Robert Frost (poet), Henry Paulson (former US Secretary of Treasury), Fred Rogers (American TV Personality), Timothy Geithner (Former US Secretary of Treasury), Kriten Gillibrand (Member of US Senate), Jake Tapper (Journalist), Salmon P. Chase (Former Cheif Justice of US), etc. 


Tsai Ing-wen (first female president of Taiwan), David Starr Jordan (founding president of Stanford University), Ratan Tata (CEO of Tata Group), Toni Morrison (Nobel laureate), Junot Diaz (Pulitzer Prize winner)


City Life

Hanover is a small city and is considered as one of the best cities to study in the USA (QS). It is the highest rating city in New Hampshire and second highest in the US. It is also one of the most educated city’s in the US. The unemployment rate observed was around 29.1 (May 2020). 


New York was ranked 34th in USA for economic growth and contributes over 8% to GDP. Financial activities, professional & business services, transportation, trade & utilities are the top contributors. 


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