Should I choose Arizona State or Dartmouth based on acceptance rate?

No. Acceptance rate is not a good reason to choose Dartmouth over Arizona State, or Arizona State over Dartmouth. It tells you how selective the admissions process is, not how well the school fits your goals, budget, academic interests, or day-to-day experience. In this comparison, the gap in acceptance rate mostly reflects how different the schools are in size, mission, and applicant pool.

Dartmouth is a small Ivy League college with a residential, undergraduate-focused environment and a strong liberal arts emphasis. Its low acceptance rate signals that many more students apply than it can enroll, but that does not automatically mean it is the better choice for every student. What matters more is whether you actually want a smaller campus, closer faculty interaction, and the particular academic and social culture Dartmouth offers.

Arizona State is a very large public research university built around broad access and scale. Its higher acceptance rate says more about that public mission and larger capacity than about weaker educational value. ASU offers extensive majors, honors options, research opportunities, and a very different campus experience, especially for students who want more flexibility, a bigger student body, or in-state affordability.

A more useful comparison is outcomes and fit: cost after aid, majors you want, class size, campus setting, internship access, advising, and where you think you would thrive. Acceptance rate can help you understand admissions difficulty, but it is a poor shortcut for deciding which college is the better choice.