True College Verdict
B

Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA · 2,273 undergraduates · 17% receive Pell Grants · admits 42%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

A good choice overall. It ranks 193 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 78.7 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $28,634 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
84% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $23,507 against earnings of $83,426, a ratio of 0.28. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Dickinson College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 84% of students graduate, better than 91% of four-year colleges.
  • Students stay: 92% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 89% of four-year colleges.
  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $83,426, higher than 89% of four-year colleges.
  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $23,507 in federal loans against earnings of $83,426.

Why it is bad

  • Expensive: the average student pays about $28,634 a year after grants, more than at 81% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
84%
Better than 91% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
92%
Better than 89% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$83,426
Better than 89% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$23,507
Better than 77% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$28,634
Better than 19% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$68,580
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
International Business50$51,750$21,289
Economics38$50,320$22,625
Political Science and Government35$40,737$18,044
Psychology, General30$42,682$23,000
English Language and Literature, General23$33,993$22,250
Natural Resources Conservation and Research20$28,598$20,153
Mathematics20$53,358n/a
Area Studies19$38,289$23,250
International Relations and National Security Studies18$48,823$18,910
Biology, General17$30,409$21,500
History17$28,598n/a
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology16n/a$21,000

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Dickinson College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.