Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA · Private

Official website

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Admission rate

Dickinson College admitted 42.1% of applicants university-wide (3,055 of 7,258).

CohortAdmit rateAdmittedApplicants
University-wide42.1%3,0557,258
In-state51.0%7091,391
Out-of-state40.0%2,3465,867
Early Decision (binding)51.4%280545
Men37.6%1,1433,036
Women45.3%1,9104,218

Early Decision applicants were admitted at 51.4%, vs 42.1% overall — ED is a binding commitment.

Also offers Early Action — the Common Data Set doesn't publish EA admit counts.

Of 3,055 admitted students, 646 enrolled (21.1% yield).

Dickinson College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C1–C2 · 2024Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.

Test scores and GPA of admitted students

SAT (mid-50%)
1330–1440
ACT (mid-50%)
30–33
GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
3.253.99

Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)

Dickinson College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C9–C12 · 2024Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.

Cost and financial aid

Published cost of attendance: $87,074/yr.

Out-of-state tuition$65,650
Fees, housing, food, books & other$21,424
Sticker cost of attendance$87,074/yr

Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)

Under $30k$40,755
$30k–48k$15,081
$48k–75k$16,316
$75k–110k$22,696
Over $110k$45,175

U.S. Dept. of Education · College Scorecard — average net price by family income (Title IV, from IPEDS) · 2023

US applicants

Need- and merit-based aid available.

  • John Dickinson ScholarshipUp to $30,000 per year (Merit)
  • Presidential Scholarship$30,000 per year (Presidential)
  • Dean's Scholarship$25,000 per year (Merit)
  • Alumni Scholarship$20,000 per year (Merit)
  • Benjamin Rush ScholarshipUp to $20,000 per year (Merit)
  • Joshua Lippincott ScholarshipUp to $15,000 per year (Merit)
  • Dickinson College GrantVaries based on need (Need Based)
  • Need-Based Financial AidVaries (Need Based)

International applicants

Meets full demonstrated need for internationals.

  • John Dickinson ScholarshipUp to $30,000 per year (Merit)
  • Presidential Scholarship$30,000 per year (Presidential)
  • Dean's Scholarship$25,000 per year (Merit)
  • Alumni Scholarship$20,000 per year (Merit)
  • Benjamin Rush ScholarshipUp to $20,000 per year (Merit)
  • Joshua Lippincott ScholarshipUp to $15,000 per year (Merit)
  • Need-Based Financial AidVaries (Need Based)

Dickinson College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections G–H · 2024

Application requirements

US applicants

  • Common Application or Coalition Application (Scoir)
  • Official secondary school transcript (grades 9-12)
  • Senior year grades (first quarter/first trimester/midyear)
  • High school counselor recommendation
  • Academic teacher recommendation
  • Signed Early Decision Agreement Form
  • Optional additional materials (arts via SlideRoom) (optional)
  • Application fee

International applicants

  • Common Application or Coalition Application (Scoir)
  • Official secondary school transcript (grades 9-12)
  • Senior year grades (first quarter/first trimester/midyear)
  • High school counselor recommendation
  • Academic teacher recommendation
  • Signed Early Decision Agreement Form
  • Optional additional materials (arts via SlideRoom) (optional)
  • Application fee
  • English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
  • GPA credential conversion
  • Predicted Class XII marksheet
  • Financial documentation (I-20)

Dickinson College · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025

Essay prompts

The Common App personal essay is required (one of 7 shared prompts), plus 3 college-specific supplements:

  1. What topic or idea could you write or converse about endlessly?50 words · Optional
  2. What are the qualities that make you proud to be you?50 words · Optional
  3. What is something new that you'd like to experience, learn or try that might surprise your friends and family?50 words · Optional

Draft these in the free Essay Coach

Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 3, 2026

Graduate outcomes

Median earnings
$70,204
Median earnings · 10 years after entry
Graduation rate
79.8%
Within 150% of normal time
First-year retention
92%
Return for year two · CDS Section B
Median debt
$19,000
At graduation

Dickinson College · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.

Published rankings

  • U.S. News Liberal Arts: #45
  • WSJ: #216
  • Forbes: #109
  • Niche: #338

Deadlines

  • 2026-11-15Early DecisionBinding early round
  • 2027-01-15Regular DecisionStandard deadline

Dickinson College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C21–C22 · 2024

Academics and campus

Largest degree fields: Social sciences (23%), Biological & life sciences (14%), Business & marketing (9%).

Student–faculty ratio: 11:1 · 65% of class sections have under 20 students.

Dickinson College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections E, F, I · 2024Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.

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