Is Dartmouth or Princeton the better financial value for an undergraduate degree?

For pure financial value, Princeton usually has the edge over Dartmouth for most undergraduates. Princeton is especially known for exceptionally generous need-based aid, including a long-standing no-loan policy, and its average grant aid is often among the strongest in the country. Dartmouth also meets demonstrated need and can be very affordable, but Princeton is more often the school people point to as the stronger value on cost alone.

On total cost, both schools have very high sticker prices, so the real comparison is your net price after aid. Princeton’s aid policy has historically resulted in many families paying less out of pocket than they would at peer schools, especially middle-income families. Dartmouth can absolutely match or come close for some students, but it is less consistently viewed as the better bargain overall.

On return on investment, both schools perform extremely well. Graduation rates are very high, both have powerful alumni networks, and both send students into strong outcomes in finance, consulting, tech, medicine, law, and academia. Princeton tends to come out a bit ahead in many ROI discussions because of the combination of top-tier earnings outcomes and unusually strong aid, which lowers debt and upfront cost.

That said, the better financial value for you depends on the actual aid packages, not the general reputation. If Dartmouth gives you materially more grant aid, covers health insurance, or reduces work expectations, then Dartmouth could easily be the smarter financial choice in your case.