Dartmouth College vs Franklin Pierce University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Dartmouth College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Franklin Pierce University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Dartmouth College at $23,262 vs Franklin Pierce University at $25,443. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $59,200 vs $53,150.
| Metric | Dartmouth College | Franklin Pierce University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Nh | Nh |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $23,262* | $25,443 |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $59,200* | $53,150 |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer Science (96/100)* | Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences (78/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $20,332* | $27,438 |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000* | $62,000 |
Dartmouth College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Franklin Pierce University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Dartmouth College at $23,262 vs Franklin Pierce University at $25,443. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $59,200 vs $53,150.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Debt loads run similar between the two schools — averages of $23,262 and $25,443 respectively. With debt comparable, the financial decision essentially reduces to the earnings side: which degree, from which school, produces the better post-graduation income trajectory.
Median first-year earnings sit moderately apart at Dartmouth College and Franklin Pierce University. The school with stronger earnings has a real edge for high-cost-of-living markets where the absolute dollar figure matters; the school with lower earnings can still be the better choice in markets where the cost-of-living differential more than offsets the income gap.
Both schools sit in Nh, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.