Why is Dartmouth ranked so low compared to other Ivies?
I'm currently a rising senior looking closely at the Ivy League schools, and I noticed that Dartmouth tends to have a lower ranking in some lists compared to other Ivies. It seems like a great school with strong academics and a tight-knit community, so I'm wondering what factors contribute to its lower ranking spot.
Is it something about their programs, resources, or maybe the size of the school? Or is it more about location and campus culture? I'm a bit confused because whenever people talk about Dartmouth, it sounds amazing, but the numbers just don't match up with that reputation. Anyone have any insight or first-hand experience about why this might be?
Is it something about their programs, resources, or maybe the size of the school? Or is it more about location and campus culture? I'm a bit confused because whenever people talk about Dartmouth, it sounds amazing, but the numbers just don't match up with that reputation. Anyone have any insight or first-hand experience about why this might be?
2 weeks ago
•
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Grayce Gibbs
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
Rankings can be confusing, especially when there's a disconnect between what you hear about a school and how it's ranked by major publications. Dartmouth is definitely an excellent institution with a strong academic reputation, but several factors affect its placement on ranking lists compared to other Ivies.
First, the size of the school plays a part. Dartmouth is the smallest Ivy, with just over 4,000 undergraduates. Some ranking systems give preference to research output, graduate programs, or the number of academic resources, where bigger schools like Harvard, Penn, and Columbia may have natural advantages due to their larger faculty, more graduate programs, and bigger budgets.
Another point is its location. Dartmouth is in Hanover, New Hampshire—a beautiful, rural area. Some students love the close-knit, campus-focused community this creates, while others prefer the urban settings of places like Columbia or Penn. Rankings sometimes use measures like access to internships, networking opportunities, or diversity of experiences, where bigger cities might score higher.
Additionally, Dartmouth is historically very focused on undergraduate education, with many classes taught by professors (not graduate students), and the quarter-based "D-plan" that's fairly unique. While this makes for amazing undergrad experiences, some ranking systems don't weigh these factors as heavily as stuff like research dollars, global recognition, or faculty awards. For example, US News heavily weighs reputation and research, while Princeton Review or Niche focus on experience and student satisfaction—areas where Dartmouth shines.
To put it in perspective: Imagine someone choosing between a big city and a small town. If one list scores for nightlife and subway stations, the big city wins. If another scores for community and green space, the small town could come out on top. Dartmouth's unique strengths sometimes don't get captured in traditional rankings.
A lot of alumni and current students would tell you the experience is unmatched because of that tight-knit community, deep faculty engagement, and distinctive culture. If those factors are important to you, Dartmouth could be a perfect fit—regardless of where it lands on spreadsheets.
First, the size of the school plays a part. Dartmouth is the smallest Ivy, with just over 4,000 undergraduates. Some ranking systems give preference to research output, graduate programs, or the number of academic resources, where bigger schools like Harvard, Penn, and Columbia may have natural advantages due to their larger faculty, more graduate programs, and bigger budgets.
Another point is its location. Dartmouth is in Hanover, New Hampshire—a beautiful, rural area. Some students love the close-knit, campus-focused community this creates, while others prefer the urban settings of places like Columbia or Penn. Rankings sometimes use measures like access to internships, networking opportunities, or diversity of experiences, where bigger cities might score higher.
Additionally, Dartmouth is historically very focused on undergraduate education, with many classes taught by professors (not graduate students), and the quarter-based "D-plan" that's fairly unique. While this makes for amazing undergrad experiences, some ranking systems don't weigh these factors as heavily as stuff like research dollars, global recognition, or faculty awards. For example, US News heavily weighs reputation and research, while Princeton Review or Niche focus on experience and student satisfaction—areas where Dartmouth shines.
To put it in perspective: Imagine someone choosing between a big city and a small town. If one list scores for nightlife and subway stations, the big city wins. If another scores for community and green space, the small town could come out on top. Dartmouth's unique strengths sometimes don't get captured in traditional rankings.
A lot of alumni and current students would tell you the experience is unmatched because of that tight-knit community, deep faculty engagement, and distinctive culture. If those factors are important to you, Dartmouth could be a perfect fit—regardless of where it lands on spreadsheets.
Grayce Gibbs
Denver, CO
Dartmouth College (AB); Colorado School of Mines (MS)
Experience
4 years