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Dickinson College

Carlisle, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$37,607What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
42%
Graduation rate
82%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
2,273
In-state tuition
$65,650Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$65,650
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$70,204Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$37,607

Better than 8% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

82%

Better than 89% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$70,204

Better than 82% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$19,000

Better than 85% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$82,902

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$37,607

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Dickinson College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time82%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return92%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$19,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$70,204

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Dickinson College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Public Policy Analysis$61,592Not reported
International Business$60,55350
Economics$53,99038
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education$44,38312
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$39,69410
Political Science and Government$37,50735
Psychology, General$37,22730
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$35,30516
Area Studies$32,72219
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$27,66320
English Language and Literature, General$25,51023
Biology, General$23,09717
MathematicsNot reported20
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reported18
HistoryNot reported17
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesNot reported16
Computer ScienceNot reported14
Non-Professional Legal StudiesNot reported14
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported13
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported12
PhilosophyNot reported10
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported9
SociologyNot reported9
AnthropologyNot reported8
ArcheologyNot reported6
PhysicsNot reported6
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported6
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
ChemistryNot reported4
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported4
Data AnalyticsNot reported4
DanceNot reported3
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported2
Medieval and Renaissance StudiesNot reported2
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported1
MusicNot reported1
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported

All 39 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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