Dickinson College
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013-2896
Data last updated: August 29, 2026
Strong graduate outcomes — known for biology
Dickinson College is a private institution in Carlisle with particular strength in biology and business.
A mid-sized campus of 2.2K undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.
83% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $70,204 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $32,191.
Rankings
More About This School
Varsity Sports
History & Fun Facts
- •Dickinson College was chartered by the Pennsylvania legislature on September 9, 1783; it was the first college to be founded in the newly independent United States of America.
- •Dickinson College's location west of the Susquehanna River made it the westernmost college in the United States at the time of its 1783 founding.
- •Rush made his first journey to Carlisle to attend the first meeting of the trustees, held in April 1784.
- •The trustees selected Charles Nisbet, a Scottish minister and scholar, to serve as the college's first president.
- •He arrived and began to serve on July 4, 1785, serving until his unexpected death in 1804.
Source: Wikipedia
Schools Like This
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA · Town · Private
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · Urban · Private
Moravian University
Bethlehem, PA · Urban · Private
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Suburban · Private
Admissions
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Deadline Calendar
Typical Application Requirements
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Net Price Trend
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
60.0%
Avg Tuition Increase
3.7%/yr
Median Debt at Grad
$17,294
Programs (37)
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
89%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
16
Peer Average
13
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from PA state average + city premium