Dickinson College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dickinson College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 40%. Chartered in 1783 and named after a signer of the Constitution, Dickinson College is a highly ranked liberal arts college located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The college has an impressive 8-to-1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 15, so students can expect a lot of interaction with faculty. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Dickinson College was awarded a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. For student athletes, the Dickinson College Red Devils compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference.

Considering applying to Dickinson College? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Dickinson College had an acceptance rate of 40%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 40 students were admitted, making Dickinson's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Dickinson College has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Dickinson may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 52% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Dickinson's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Dickinson scored between 620 and 700, while 25% scored below 620 and 25% scored above 700. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 620 and 710, while 25% scored below 620 and 25% scored above 710. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1410 or higher is competitive for Dickinson College.

Requirements

Dickinson College does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Dickinson participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Dickinson does not require SAT Subject tests or the optional essay section of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Dickinson has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 23% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Dickinson's admitted students fall within the top 12% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Dickinson College received a composite ACT score between 28 and 32, while 25% scored above 32 and 25% scored below 28.

Requirements

Note that Dickinson College does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, Dickinson gives most weight to the composite ACT score. Dickinson does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

Dickinson College does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs. According to 2019 admissions statistics, nearly three-fourths of admitted students reported ranking in the top 25% of their high school class.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Dickinson College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Dickinson College, which accepts just under half of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool. However, Dickinson also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Dickinson's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. The data show that the majority of successful applicants had high school grades of "A-" or better, combined SAT scores of 1200 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 26 or better.

If You Like Dickinson College, You May Also Like These Schools

• Swarthmore College
• Wesleyan University
• Tufts University
• Bowdoin College
• American University
• Haverford College

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Dickinson College Undergraduate Admissions Office.