Is Dartmouth generally harder to get into than the University of Arizona?

Yes. Dartmouth is far harder to gain admission to than the University of Arizona in overall admissions selectivity. Dartmouth is an Ivy League institution with a very limited entering class and a highly competitive national and international applicant pool. The University of Arizona is a large public research university with a substantially broader admissions mandate and a much larger undergraduate enrollment.

At Dartmouth, strong grades and rigorous coursework are essentially baseline expectations for many applicants, and admission decisions also weigh essays, recommendations, activities, intellectual engagement, and personal contribution closely. Even applicants with outstanding academic records can be denied because the university has far more qualified applicants than available spaces.

Arizona’s admission process is comparatively accessible and is more transparent about academic preparation requirements. Applicants with solid high-school coursework and grades have a realistic path to admission, although certain programs, honors opportunities, and merit scholarships can be more competitive than general university admission.

For college-list planning, Dartmouth belongs in the reach category for virtually every applicant, including students with exceptional credentials. The University of Arizona may be a likely, target, or reach option depending on your academic record, residency, intended program, and financial situation, but it is not comparable to Dartmouth in overall selectivity.