Dickinson College vs Smith College
Dickinson College and Smith College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Dickinson, located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate (34%) compared to Smith's 29%. With a larger student body, Dickinson provides a diverse range of academic programs, with popular majors including Economics, Political Science, and Psychology. Smith, situated in Northampton, Massachusetts, excels in the sciences, with Biology, Neuroscience, and Computer Science among its most sought-after majors. While both colleges foster inclusive communities, Smith's student body is predominantly female, while Dickinson's is more evenly balanced. Notably, Smith boasts a higher graduation rate (89%) than Dickinson's 86%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two exceptional institutions and determine which aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Dickinson College |
![]() Smith College |
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Overview |
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Location | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Northampton, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 92.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 48.1% | 29.9% |
Application fees | $65 | $60 |
SAT range | N/A | 1370 - 1530 |
ACT range | N/A | 31 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 34.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 6,366 | 6,064 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,061 | 1,814 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 677 | 676 |
Yield rate | 22.1% | 37.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $77,300 | $68,128 |
Average net price | $20,913 | $29,569 |
Tuition | $58,158 | $55,830 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,866
Meal plan:
$7,386
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Room/dormitory:
$9,700
Meal plan:
$9,720
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
92.0%
Average amount $39,555 |
70.0%
Average amount $44,108 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
41.0%
Average amount $3,696 |
35.0%
Average amount $3,560 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $9,232 |
5.0%
Average amount $8,280 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,180
Men 42.1% Women 57.9% |
2,566
Men 0.1% Women 99.9% |
Graduate students |
6
Men 33.3% Women 66.7% |
358
Men 16.2% Women 83.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 12.3% | 13.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,118 | 2,519 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Mississippi New York California Connecticut Maryland |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.4% | 91.0% |
Dropout rate | 17.6% | 3.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 5.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
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