Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA · Small city
Admissions
- Acceptance rate (most recent year)
- 42.1%
- Applicants (fall 2023)
- 7,185
- Admitted (fall 2023)
- 3,095
- Enrolled freshmen (fall 2023)
- 525
- Yield (admitted who enroll)
- 17%
- Acceptance rate – women (fall 2023)
- 48%
- Acceptance rate – men (fall 2023)
- 37%
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- 670–740
- SAT math, middle 50%
- 640–720
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- 30–33
- Enrollees who sent SAT / ACT
- 0% / 0%
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey, fall 2023 entering class; test ranges and rate from U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
What they look at
- High school GPA
- required
- High school class rank
- considered
- High school record (transcript)
- required
- College-prep program completed
- required
- Recommendations
- considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- considered
- SAT/ACT scores
- considered
- English proficiency test (TOEFL etc.)
- required
- Other test
- considered
- Work experience
- considered
- Personal statement or essay
- considered
- Legacy status
- considered
“Considered” means the college uses it if you submit it, but it isn’t required.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price (after grants and scholarships) for first-time, full-time students who got aid, by family income.
- Full sticker price (per year)
- $82,902
- Tuition & fees – in-state
- $65,650
- Tuition & fees – out-of-state
- $65,650
- Median debt at graduation
- $19,000
- Students with federal loans
- 39%
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Outcomes
- Graduate within 6 years
- 80%
- Freshmen who return for year 2
- 92%
- Median earnings, 1 year after graduating
- $38,320
- Median earnings, 10 years after starting
- $70,204
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Students & campus
- Undergraduates
- 2,273
- Graduate students
- 3
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 11 : 1
- Women
- 60%
- Students receiving Pell grants
- 13%
- Full-time faculty
- 81%
Undergraduate diversity
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Most popular majors
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release) (share of bachelor’s degrees awarded)
Contacts & links
- President
- John E. Jones III
- Main phone
- (717) 243-5121
- Address
- College and Louther Streets, Carlisle, PA 17013-2896
How to apply (2026–27)
| Plan | Apply by | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (binding) | November 15 | mid-December |
| Early Action | November 15 | mid-January |
| Early Decision II (binding) | January 15 | late February |
| Regular Decision | January 15 | late March |
- Apply with
- Common App, Coalition/Scoir
- Application fee
- Free
- SAT/ACT
- Optional
- Essays
- Optional: up to 3 short questions (50 words or less each)
- Recommendations
- 1 counselor + 1 core-course teacher (2 teachers recommended)
- Interview
- evaluative optional
Testing: Test-optional since 1994
Financial aid policies
- CSS Profile required (plus FAFSA)
- Merit scholarships: Merit scholarships awarded without regard to need; all applicants eligible
- College says all admitted Class of 2029 students had financial need met
Early rounds & waitlist (2025-2026)
- Early Decision admit rate
- 56.8% (258 of 454)
- Waitlist: offered / accepted / admitted
- 335 / 63 / 8
Source: the college’s official website and Common Data Set 2025-2026: dickinson.edu, dickinson.edu, dickinson.edu, dickinson.edu. Dates can change, so always confirm on the college’s site.