Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA

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Dickinson, founded in 1773, is a private, liberal arts college. Conceived during the American Revolution, Dickinson was the first college chartered in the newly recognized U.S. Although it is steeped in history, Dickinson is confident of the future, enterprising in its approach to contemporary challenges and practical in its educational program. Dickinson asks its students constantly to challenge what is safe and comfortable, meeting the future with a voice that reflects America and engages the world. Its program requires students to cross the traditional borders of academic discipline to witness the interrelated nature of knowledge and to extend their studies off-campus through one of the school's 11 study centers abroad, by participating in internships, through field studies and through service to the community. Dickinson is best known for its unique approach to science education and for its outstanding and comprehensive international education program. While firmly rooted in the liberal arts, Dickinson's major in international business and its commitment to providing students with a useful education clearly set the college on a path that is future-oriented. Its 114-acre campus is located in Carlisle, 18 miles from Harrisburg. The oldest campus building, completed in 1804, is a registered National Historic Landmark.

Website: www.dickinson.edu/

Private
Co-ed
2,382
Undergraduate
Students
(58.1%) 1,385 Women
(41.9%) 997 Men
Not reported
Graduate
Students

Admission

Entrance Difficulty
Very difficult
Overall Admission Rate
49% of 5,941 applicants were admitted
Early Action Offered
Yes
Early Decision Offered
Yes
Regular Admission Deadline
January 15

Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

Average GPA
Not reported
SAT Math
663 average
610-720 range of middle 50%
SAT EBRW
657 average
620-700 range of middle 50%
ACT Composite
29 average
27-32 range of middle 50%
See more

Money Matters

Cost of Attendance
$69,071
Tuition and Fees
$52,930
Room and Board
$13,236
Average Percent of Need Met
99%
Average Freshman Award
$44,642
Average Indebtedness of 2016 Graduates
$25,881
See more

Academics

Academic Calendar System
Semester
General Education/Core Curriculum
Required
Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
225
Regular Class Size
2-9 students: 33% of classes
10-19 students: 45% of classes
20-29 students: 17% of classes
30-39 students: 5% of classes
40-49 students: 1% of classes
See more

Campus Life

Carlisle Population
18,880
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Harrisburg
Freshman Housing Guarantee
Freshmen are guaranteed housing
Students in College Housing
95% of all students
Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division III
Mascot
Red Devil
Sororities
27% of women participate
Fraternities
16% of men participate
See more

Students

Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
0.1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
4.1% Asian
5.5% Black/African-American
9.6% Hispanic/Latino
4.2% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
75.4% White
1.0% Unknown
International Students
12.4% from 44 countries
First-Year Students Returning
90.0%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
80.4%
Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
Not reported
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
37.0%
See more

Freshman Admission Requirements

Entrance Difficulty

Very Difficult: More than 50% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT I or over 26 on the ACT; about 60% or fewer of all applicants accepted.

High School Preparation

High School Graduation
High school diploma required and GED is accepted
High School Program
College preparatory program is recommended

High School Units Required or Recommended

High School Units Required or Recommended
Subject Required Units Recommended Units
English 4  
Mathematics 3  
Science 3  
Foreign Language 2 3
Social Studies 2  
History    
Academic Electives 2  

Examinations

Examinations
Exam Required Units Scores Due in Admissions Office
SAT or ACT Recommended January 15
SAT Only    
ACT Only    
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT    
SAT Subject Tests Only Considered if submitted
SAT Essay Component Policy Not Reported
ACT Writing Test Policy Accepted with or without writing component
ACT Writing Test Policy SAT: Not used
ACT: Not used

Applying for Admission

Admissions Office

Address
PO Box 1773
City, State, Zip
Carlisle, PA 17013-2896
Phone
(717) 245-1231
Fax
(717) 245-1442
E-mail
admissions@dickinson.edu

Application Dates and Fees

Regular Admisson Deadline
January 15
Application Fee
$65
Application Fee Waiver
Available
Regular Admission Notification
March 23
Accept Offer of Admission
By May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified after May 1
Waiting List Used
Yes
Defer Admission
Student can defer admission
Transfer Admission
Transfer applications accepted

Early Admission

Early Decision Offered
Yes
Early Decision Deadline
November 15, January 15
Early Decision Notification
December 15, February 15
Early Action Offered
Yes
Early Action Deadline
December 1
Early Action Notification
February 15

Application Form

Common Application
Accepted, supplemental forms required
Universal College Application
Not accepted
Electronic Application
Available

Other Application Requirements

Interview
Not Required
Essay or Personal Statement
Required for all freshmen
Letters of Recommendation
2 required for all freshmen
Other
 
Financial Need
Financial need is a consideration in the admissions process

Selection of Students

Selection of Students
Factor Very Important Important Considered Not Considered
Rigor of Secondary School Record X
Academic GPA X
Standardized Tests X
Class Rank X
Recommendations X
Essay X
Interview X
Level of Applicant's Interest X
Extracurricular Activities X
Volunteer Work X
Particular Talent/Ability X
Character/Personal Qualities X
First Generation to Attend College X
State Residency X
Geographic Residence X
Relation with Alumnus X
Religious Affiliation/Commitment X
Ethnicity X
Work Experience X

Profile of Fall Admission

Overall Admission Rate
49% of 5,941 applicants were admitted
Women
49% of 3,537 applicants were admitted
Men
48% of 2,404 applicants were admitted
Students Enrolled
624 (22%) of 2,894 admitted students enrolled
Women
358 (21%) of 1,730 admitted students enrolled
Men
266 (23%) of 1,164 admitted students enrolled
Early Decision Admission Rate
68% of 376 applicants were admitted
Early Action Admission Rate
57% of 3014 applicants were admitted
Students Offered Wait List
628
Students Accepting Wait List Position
252
Students Admitted From Wait List
35

Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)

Average GPA
Not reported
3.75 and Above
Not reported
3.50 - 3.74
Not reported
3.25 - 3.49
Not reported
3.00 - 3.24
Not reported
2.50 - 2.99
Not reported
2.00 - 2.49
Not reported

SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

SAT Math
663 average
610-720 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800
33%
Score of 600 - 700
49%
Score of 500 - 600
17%
Score of 400 - 500
1%
Score of 300 - 400
0%
Score of 200 - 300
0%
SAT EBRW
657 average
620-700 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800
27%
Score of 600 - 700
61%
Score of 500 - 600
12%
Score of 400 - 500
0%
Score of 300 - 400
0%
Score of 200 - 300
0%

ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

ACT Composite
29 average
27-32 range of middle 50%
Score of 30 - 36
51%
Score of 24 - 29
45%
Score of 18 - 23
4%
Score of 12 - 17
0%
Score of 6 - 11
0%
Score of 5 or Below
0%

Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

High School Class Rank
Top tenth: 48%
Top quarter: 77%
Top half: 96%
National Merit Scholar
Not reported
Valedictorian
Not reported
Class President
Not reported
Student Government Officer
Not reported

Tuition and Expenses

Cost of Attendance
$69,071
Tuition and Fees
$52,930
Room and Board
$13,236
Books and Supplies
$1,170
Other Expenses
$1,710
Payment Plans
Installment plan

Applying for Financial Aid

Financial Aid Office

Email
finaid@dickinson.edu
Web Site
Financial Aid Web Site
Net Price Calculator URL
Net Price Calculator URL

Application Process

Application Deadline
Priority deadline November 15
Final deadline January 15
Award Notification
On or about March 23
Methodology for Awarding Institutional Aid
Federal and Institutional Methodologies
Forms Required Cost to File
FAFSA
Code is 003253		 Free
State Aid Form  
CSS/Financial Aid Profile $25 for first college, $16 each additional

Profile of 2017 - 18 Financial Aid

Freshman

Financial Aid Applicants
422 (69.6%) of freshmen
Found to Have Financial Need
375 (88.9%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid
374 (99.7%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met
344 (92.0%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met
99%
Average Award
$44,642
Need-Based Gift
Received by 362 (96.8%) of aid recipients, average amount $40,052
Need-Based Self-Help
Received by 341 (91.2%) of aid recipients, average amount $5,678
Merit-Based Gift
Received by 22 (5.9%) of aid recipients
Merit-Based Gift
64 (10.6%) of freshmen had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $11,343

All Undergraduates

Financial Aid Applicants
1,428 (61.4%) of undergraduates
Found to Have Financial Need
1,331 (93.2%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid
1,328 (99.8%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met
1,020 (76.8%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met
98%
Average Award
$45,710
Need-Based Gift
Received by 1,306 (98.3%) of aid recipients, average amount $39,595
Need-Based Self-Help
Received by 1,232 (92.8%) of aid recipients, average amount $6,329
Merit-Based Gift
Received by 66 (5.0%) of aid recipients
Merit-Based Gift
359 (15.4%) of undergraduates had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $10,287

Borrowing

2016 Graduates Who Took Out Loans
54%
Average Indebtedness of 2016 Graduates
$25,881
Parents of Students Receiving Aid
6.0%
Parents of Students Not Receiving Aid
Not reported

Financial Aid Programs

Loans

Federal Loans
Direct subsidized Stafford loans, direct unsubsidized Stafford loans, direct PLUS loans, Federal Perkins loans
State Loans
 
Other Loans
College/university loans

Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Available
Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships
Non-Need–Based Available
Academic scholarships, Special characteristics (minority, religious affiliation, other scholarships)

Non-Need Awards

Academic Interest/Achievement Award Areas
Military Science
Number of Awards
877
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Creative Arts/Performance Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Special Achievements/Activities Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Special Characteristics Award Areas
Children and Siblings of Alumni, Children of Faculty/Staff, Veterans, Veterans' Children
Number of Awards
36
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 

Employment

Work-Study Programs
Federal work study available, other work study available
Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment
$2,277
Academic Calendar System
Semester
Summer Session
Not offered
General Catalog/Bulletin
Online Catalog

Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate Majors

  • African Studies
  • American/United States Studies/Civilization
  • Anthropology
  • Archeology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • Chemistry, General
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General
  • Dance, General
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics, General
  • English Language and Literature, General
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General
  • French Language and Literature
  • Geology/Earth Science, General
  • German Language and Literature
  • History, General
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce
  • International Relations and Affairs
  • Italian Studies
  • Jewish/Judaic Studies
  • Latin American Studies
  • Legal Studies, General
  • Mathematics, General
  • Medieval and Renaissance Studies
  • Music, General
  • Near and Middle Eastern Studies
  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy
  • Physics, General
  • Political Science and Government, General
  • Psychology, General
  • Public Policy Analysis, General
  • Religion/Religious Studies
  • Russian Language and Literature
  • Sociology
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Women's Studies
Most Popular Disciplines
Social sciences, Biological/life sciences, Business/marketing
Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs
Engineering, international studies with Johns Hopkins University
Special Programs
Accelerated program, Student-designed major, Double major, English as a second language, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad
Study Abroad
Offered
Online Degrees
Not reported

Curriculum and Graduation Requirements

General Education/Core Curriculum
Required
Computer
Students not required to own/lease a computer
Foreign Language
Required
Math/Science
Required for all students

Faculty and Instruction

Full-Time Faculty
225
Part-Time Faculty
58
Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree
73%
Regular Class Size
2-9 students: 33% of classes
10-19 students: 45% of classes
20-29 students: 17% of classes
30-39 students: 5% of classes
40-49 students: 1% of classes
Discussion Section/Lab Class Size
Not reported

Advanced Placement

International Baccalaureate
Accepted
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Accepted for placement and credit
Sophomore Standing
Available through AP examinations

Academic Resources

Library Available on Campus
Yes
Holdings
1,291,419
Computer Ownership
Students not required to own/lease a computer
Computers Available on Campus
1750
Internet/E-mail Access
Not reported

Academic Support Services

Remedial Instruction
Not Offered
Tutoring
Available
Services for Learning Disabled Students
Available
Services for Physically Disabled Students
Hearing impaired services, speech disorders services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access

Graduate/Professional School Education

Master's Degrees Offered

Not reported

Master's Programs of Study

  • Not reported

Doctoral Degrees Offered

Not reported

Doctoral Programs of Study

  • Not reported

Location and Setting

Boston Population
18,880
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Harrisburg
Campus Size
144 acres

Weather

Temperature
21.2 average low in January, 81.2 average high in September
Rain
125 rainy days per year

Getting Around

Campus Map
Map
Nearest Bus Station
1 mile(s) from campus in Carlisle
Nearest Train Station
20 mile(s) from campus in Harrisburg

Housing

College Housing
College offers housing to students
Types of Housing
Coed housing, disabled student housing
Students in College Housing
95% of all students
Housing Requirements
Students required to live on campus through senior year
Freshman Housing Guarantee
Freshmen are guaranteed housing
Students Living Off Campus/Commuting
5%
Off-Campus Housing Assistance
 

Security

24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices
Available
24-Hour Security Patrols
Available
Late-Night Transport/Escort Services
Available
Electronically Operated Housing Entrances
Available
Other
 

Personal Support Services

Health Service
Offered
Personal Counseling
Offered
Child Care
Offered

Sports and Recreation

Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division III
Mascot
Red Devil
School Colors
Red and white

Intercollegiate Sports Offered

Sports Women Men
Offered Scholarships Offered Scholarships
Baseball     x  
Basketball x   x  
Cross-Country Running x   x  
Field Hockey x      
Football     x  
Golf x   x  
Lacrosse x   x  
Soccer x   x  
Softball x      
Squash x   x  
Swimming And Diving x   x  
Tennis x   x  
Track And Field x   x  
Volleyball x      
Women's Sports
Offered Scholarships
Baseball    
Basketball x  
Cross-Country Running x  
Field Hockey x  
Football    
Golf x  
Lacrosse x  
Soccer x  
Softball x  
Squash x  
Swimming And Diving x  
Tennis x  
Track And Field x  
Volleyball x  
Mens's Sports
Offered Scholarships
Baseball x  
Basketball x  
Cross-Country Running x  
Field Hockey    
Football x  
Golf x  
Lacrosse x  
Soccer x  
Softball    
Squash x  
Swimming And Diving x  
Tennis x  
Track And Field x  
Volleyball    
Women's Club Sports
cheerleading, equestrian sports, fencing, ice hockey, rock climbing, skiing (downhill), ultimate Frisbee
Men's Club Sports
cheerleading, equestrian sports, fencing, ice hockey, rock climbing, skiing (downhill), ultimate Frisbee, volleyball

Recreational Sports

Intramural Sports
badminton, basketball, field hockey, football, racquetball, sand volleyball, soccer, softball, squash, tennis, volleyball

Student Activities

Activities and Organizations
choral groups, drama theatre, radio station, student newspaper, national fraternities, national sororities, multi-organization board, outing club, student senate, admissions volunteers, wdcv radio station
Sororities
27% of women participate
Fraternities
16% of men participate
ROTC
Army ROTC offered on campus

Student Body

Coeducational
Yes
All Undergraduates
2,382
Women
1,385 (58.1%)
Men
997 (41.9%)
Full-Time Undergraduates
2,346
Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
0.1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
4.1% Asian
5.5% Black/African-American
9.6% Hispanic/Latino
4.2% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
75.4% White
1.0% Unknown
International Students.
12.4% from 44 countries
Average Age
20
All Graduate Students
Not reported

Undergraduate Retention and Graduation

First-Year Students Returning
90.0%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
80.4%
Students Graduating Within 5 Years
83%
Students Graduating Within 6 Years
83.0%

After Graduation

Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
Not reported
Average Starting Salary
Not reported
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
37.0%
Disciplines Pursued
Business 2%
Law 5%
Arts and Sciences 14%
Medicine 2%
Education 2%
Other 3%

A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2019 Peterson's, a Nelnet company. All rights reserved."