Dickinson College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Dickinson College was $62,900 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 3.49%–from $60,776 the previous year. Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams sound impossible, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students find the actual cost of college is a lot less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Plus, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Dickinson College meets 98.3% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Dickinson College is around $53,140 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $27,462 in student loans for each student with debt.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Dickinson College

Dickinson College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of Pennsylvania as it does for students who live in other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. These institutions offer reduced tuition for those who qualify as Pennsylvania residents.

Attending a school where you qualify for in-state tuition can save on the overall cost of college. Don't forget to check your state's requirements for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other Pennsylvania colleges

Tuition for International Students at Dickinson College

Dickinson College has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Dickinson College:

•On-campus jobs •Dickinson College-specific loans •Dickinson College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

---

Dickinson College Housing Expenses, Fees, and More

---

Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Dickinson College.

House and Food Costs at Dickinson College

Room and board at Dickinson College costs $16,500 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that enables you to eat in the school dining halls. Students who live off campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can pay for a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $8,500.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Dickinson College?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be additional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer ways for students with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Transportation costs

The cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are not allowed to park a car on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in an urban area may be pricey, but there may be more buses, trains and affordable flights to actually get to school. Dickinson Collegeis in a suburb in Pennsylvania, not far from Harrisburg.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, don’t forget to consider personal expenses, like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

---

Financial Breakdown for Dickinson College

---

Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending Dickinson College.

How Much Does Dickinson College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Dickinson College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$62,900
Room and Board	$16,500
Board Only	$8,000
Other expenses	$1,628

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$81,578
Off-Campus	$73,078

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

---

Dickinson College Financial Aid

---

The majority of Dickinson College undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 1,302 of the 2,125 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Dickinson College meets 98.3% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $53,140 a year. Around 63% of Dickinson College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Dickinson College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $27,462 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$18,475
State Loans	$43,564
Dickinson College-Specific Loans	$8,942
Private Loans	$60,969

Most Common Loans for Dickinson College Students
Federal Loans	51%
State loans	1%
Institutional Loans	31%
Private loans	8%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Dickinson College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Dickinson College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Dickinson College awarded 1,287 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $62.8 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $14.51 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Dickinson College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Dickinson College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Dickinson College was $53,140 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Dickinson College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$28,438
Off-Campus	$19,938

What will attending Dickinson College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Dickinson College's net cost calculator on their website.

Dickinson College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Dickinson College does not have guaranteed tuition.

Dickinson College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Dickinson College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Dickinson College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Dickinson College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Dickinson College's endowment was valued at $585.5 million in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, Dickinson College spends about $20,857 a year.

---

Learn More About Dickinson College

---

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Connect with other students, parents, and admissions professionals to learn more about about Dickinson College in the College Confidential forums