Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Dickinson admits about 1 in 2 applicants (41%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 89% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 38%, women at 45%.
Where applicants live
Pennsylvania applicants were admitted at 50%, applicants from other states at 52%, and international applicants at 13%.
All applicants in the same class: 41%
Of those admitted, 25% from Pennsylvania enrolled, against 19% from other states and 17% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
20% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 335 offered a place, 63 accepted, 8 admitted (13% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 57% admitted
258 of 454 early applicants; 41% of all applicants
Apply by Nov 15; decisions by Dec 15
Second round: apply by Jan 15; decisions by Feb 15
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
No early action plan.
Where you stand
How Dickinson reads a record
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered. Scores are optional. 13% of first-years sent an SAT and 5% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 28% whose high school reported a rank, 49% were in the top tenth. Recommends 3 years of foreign language. See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Important | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Very important | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required; other tests considered
Transferring in
25% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 41% of first-year applicants
148 applied · 37 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by April 1, decisions by May 15
- Spring entry: apply by November 1, decisions by December 15
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Recommended
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 15 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are sent by a set date.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 2 years.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Foreign language | 3 |
| Total | 3* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
49% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 81% in the top quarter, of the 28% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:Dickinson College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1390 on the SAT, 220 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
48% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
60% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
37% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Shares of the 13% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
65 studentssubmitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Dickinson College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Dickinson College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Dickinson College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Dickinson College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)