Dartmouth College Athletic Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Athletes

Dartmouth College, known as the Big Green and the athletic (and outdoorsy) Ivy, offers an exceptional education in the small-town setting of Hanover, New Hampshire. For generations, outstanding athletes have found a supporting, competitive, academically superior home at Dartmouth. If you’re applying to the Ivies, it is important to understand the athletic landscape and scholarship opportunities available. This article provides a detailed overview of athletics at Dartmouth, focusing on scholarships, the recruitment process, and other opportunities for student-athletes.

Dartmouth College: An Overview

Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, a town of 8,000 in central New Hampshire, Dartmouth is also the small-town Ivy. Dartmouth offers an exceptional education, and Hanover has a bustling main street full of international food options, small mom-and-pop stores, and basically anything you could need at last minute notice. Alumni include leading thinkers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and activists. With a strong emphasis on both academics and athletics, Dartmouth stands out as a top-tier school, particularly for winter sport athletes. The college is also the best top-tier school for many winter sport athletes, who are naturally limited geographically in where they can both learn and compete (note: there needs to be a winter). The school is also known for beloved traditions that embrace cooler weather, such as Winter Carnival, which celebrates the season many other people choose to stay inside. Winter Carnival showcases Dartmouth’s winter athletes, 147 of whom have gone on to compete in the Olympics - “the most in the Ivy League.” The school has collected 32 winter Olympic medals which, if Dartmouth were a country, would rank just behind Great Britain.

Dartmouth is awesome in more than just the winter, though. There are 6,700 students across graduate and undergraduate who call campus home, and they field 35 varsity sports teams that compete in the NCAA Division I. All told, more than 75% of undergraduate students at Dartmouth are involved in sports at some level - beyond simply cheering along as fans. The university typically has a slightly higher acceptance rate than the other Ivy League schools, likely because the location isn’t in a big city like Providence (Brown), New Haven (Yale), Cambridge (Harvard), or New York City (Columbia). So, people who chose Dartmouth, choose Dartmouth. Being 2 and a half hours away from Boston, then, has some perks.

The acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 6.2%. For the Class of 2028, the acceptance rate dropped to a record low of 5.3%.

Understanding Athletic Scholarships at Dartmouth

As a member of the Ivy League, Dartmouth does not offer athletic scholarships despite being in the NCAA Division I. So, attending Dartmouth won’t cost you less as an athlete than it would have if you weren’t exceptional at, say, running in a circle (aka Track). This means that athletic ability alone will not reduce the cost of attendance. However, being an outstanding athlete and going through the recruiting process does significantly increase your odds of acceptance, as coaches advocate for the applications of recruited athletes.

Read also: UCF Application Strategies

Need-Based Financial Aid

Despite the absence of athletic scholarships, Dartmouth meets 100% of demonstrated need for all its students. Once admitted, you’ll still have access to the need-based aid you would have gotten anyway if that applies to you. Dartmouth Scholarships are need-based and are given without expectation of repayment. Amounts may range from $1,000 to over $80,000, depending on your expected family contribution. Many Dartmouth students will be paired to one or more of our over 950 endowed scholarship funds. These awards do not represent additional aid, but indicate that the aid already awarded will come from a specific endowed fund. All students receiving aid complete an additional survey to assist with making these pairings, but no separate application is required for any specific opportunity. Any student can opt out of this program if that is their preference.

Most students receiving these scholarships are asked to answer some additional questions about their Dartmouth experience and write their donor a note of thanks annually. All outside scholarships, including tuition benefits, must be reported to the financial aid office. This includes scholarships or resources that are made payable to the student.

Outside scholarships may be used to reduce or replace the student's work expectation and leave term earnings, as well as any health insurance cost that is not already covered by Dartmouth. First year students may also use outside scholarship to cover the allowable cost of a computer. Outside resources that exceed these amounts will reduce Dartmouth Scholarship dollar for dollar. Dartmouth regards veterans' benefits as outside scholarships that you have earned and they will be used to reduce your own expenses.

For U.S. citizens or permanent residents, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only form required to apply for Federal Financial Aid. The federal government provides Pell Grants to students who qualify on the basis of financial need as determined by their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded by the College to the most needy students. Some states have need-based grants for undergraduate students which may be used at Dartmouth. State grants may be included in your overall grant eligibility, but are not counted until they are received from the state, at which time they will reduce Dartmouth scholarship, dollar-for-dollar. ROTC Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis.

Nearly all financial aid awards include employment eligibility. Students can choose to take this opportunity to work on campus and earn money to help cover their indirect costs. Loans are a type of aid which must be repaid. Loans are available for parents to cover the cost of the family contribution. This type of loan is available from private banks. Your ability to obtain private funding is largely based on your credit-worthiness and current indebtedness.

While Dartmouth's financial aid covers 100% of the demonstrated need of all its students, the opportunity for funding doesn't stop there. Dartmouth students have access to resources that make all kinds of experiences possible and ensure that every student can take advantage of the diverse opportunities Dartmouth has to offer. April 2023 “I received funding to volunteer with the local National Weather Service office in Memphis, Tennessee. September 2021Theater Grant, E.E. This is my fifth term at Dartmouth!

Estimating the Cost of Attendance

Prospective students can estimate their cost to attend Dartmouth using the tools available on the college's website. This helps families understand the potential financial commitment and plan accordingly.

The Athlete Recruitment Process at Dartmouth

If Dartmouth sounds like your dream school, it’s important to understand the recruitment process. Here’s how to navigate it effectively:

What Dartmouth Looks for in Student-Athletes

When looking at the applications of student-athletes, and their athletic achievements, Dartmouth is looking for outstanding students first, exceptional athletes next. But you can’t just be an athlete with good grades. They want well-rounded students who pursue passions beyond classes and their preferred sport. If all you do is play and study, you’re not Dartmouth material. So, if Dartmouth is your dream school, you need to pursue your other passions, too. Explore, adventure, and try new things. Not doing every elite team or travel competition won’t make or break your application, but not pursuing passions beyond your sport might.

Initiating the Recruitment Process

If you’re interested in initiating the recruitment process, you’ll need to go to the team-specific page for your sport (for example, Men’s Lightweight Rowing), and then click on the “Recruiting” tab. This will take you directly to a questionnaire that you need to fill out carefully, as it’ll most likely be your first point-of-contact with the coaches. First impressions really matter!

There are regulations within the NCAA and within the Ivy League that pertain to when coaches can speak with students, so you may not hear back immediately. If you are in your junior year of high school and have not heard back within a few weeks of submitting the questionnaire, you should follow up with a coach directly (don’t spam them all). Remember that this is like applying for a job, so you need to approach it from a professional perspective.

Key Contacts in Women's Basketball

For those interested in the Dartmouth College Women's Basketball program, key personnel to contact include:

Head Coach: Linda Cimino
Assistant Coach: Anh-Dao Tran
Assistant Coach: Evelyn Adebayo
Recruiting Coordinator, Assistant Coach: Shelby Boyle
Director of Operations: Michaela Nsubuga

NCSA: A Valuable Resource

NCSA (Next College Student Athlete) offers student-athletes the information and tools they need to enhance their chances of being recruited. NCSA has been connecting coaches and athletes which is a vital component of the recruiting process. This year alone you'll find 127627 Women's Basketball high school athletes utilizing the NCSA network, technology and scouting professionals to get their highlights before 5112 coaches at 1790 colleges Women's Basketball programs nationwide. If you want to join the Dartmouth College Women's Basketball program you need to start building relationships and a highly-visible, professional quality recruiting profile. Starting that process as soon as possible is crucial to your success. So make your free profile to become a verified NCSA Women's Basketball athlete and start connecting with coaches at the Dartmouth College Women's Basketball program today.

The Importance of Early Engagement

Starting the recruitment process as soon as possible is crucial to your success. Building relationships and creating a highly-visible, professional-quality recruiting profile are essential steps.

Walk-Ons

Most spots on many Dartmouth teams are filled through recruiting, but it’s common to have a few spaces open any given season that coaches are looking to fill. “Walking-on” to the team is a way to join a varsity squad without going through the recruitment process. But it does come with its own hurdles, like getting into Dartmouth without coach support and trying out, and uncertainties, like there’s no guarantee that the team will even have a space for you. If you have even an inkling that you may want to compete on a varsity squad at Dartmouth, you should start down the recruitment path so that the coaches know who you are. They may even direct you to the walk-on option in advance of you mentioning it.

Beyond Varsity Sports

Dartmouth offers a wide array of athletic opportunities beyond varsity sports, including club sports and intramural teams.

Club Sports

Dartmouth has 30+ Club sports teams that range from “nationally competitive to casual and recreational.” The Club teams are all student run, whether Water Polo or Tae Kwon Do, and compete against other colleges regionally or nationally. Some are open to anyone, while others hold tryouts. The time commitment for a club team is in-between a varsity team and an intramural, which are the most laid-back way to play a sport at Dartmouth.

Intramural Sports

Whereas Club teams are still highly competitive, intramurals at Dartmouth are all about fun. It’s easy to join one of the 24 intramural teams, and easy to start one. The time commitment is low, and the community is all about having a good time doing something you love or trying something new.

Physical Education (PE) Requirement

Dartmouth also has a PE requirement for graduation, but it’s not the gym class you may have experienced at school. Dartmouth PE classes are themed around things like yoga, dance, or skiing, and some are sponsored by the Outing Club. The programs are flexible and inclusive.

Dartmouth Outing Club

Talking about athletics at Dartmouth without at least mentioning the Outing Club would be a crime. The Dartmouth Outing Club is the old collegiate outing club in the United States, and the largest. It offers classes and trips, rents gear, and even maintains a network of cabins. They also maintain over fifty miles of the Appalachian Trail. Founded in 1909, the Outing Club was created to foster a love of winter sports, in particular, which links back to Dartmouth’s impressive winter sport offerings and community. Whether you want to make new friends canoeing, climbing, or backpacking, or you want to go off to a cabin in the woods by yourself for some rest and relaxation, the Dartmouth Outing Club is an amazing resource.

Unique Aspects of Dartmouth for Athletes

One more thing that’s important to add for prospective recruited athletes is that the Dartmouth academic calendar is uniquely conducive to supporting varsity athletes in doing study abroad, or similar programs. These types of programs are often not an option for varsity athletes at DI schools, so it’s a major perk.

Campus and Transportation

Served by bus; major airport serves Boston; smaller airport serves Lebanon (six miles); train serves White River Junction, VT (seven miles). School operates transportation to towns in the upper valley.

Key Athletic Staff

In addition to the Women's Basketball staff mentioned above, Dartmouth has a dedicated team of coaches and staff across various sports. Some notable figures include:

Head Coach: Sammy McCorkle
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks): Shane Montgomery
Assistant Coach (Running Backs, Special Teams): Braxton Chapman
Director of Recruiting: Danny O'Dea
Director of Operations: Dino Cauteruccio Jr.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers): Don Dobes
Assistant Coach (Defensive Line): Duane Brooks
Recruiting Coordinator, Director of Operations: Erin Brennan
Assistant Coach (Offensive Line): Keith Clark
Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs): Kevin Bracken
Assistant Coach (Tight Ends): Kevin Daft
Assistant Coach (Cornerbacks): Mike Johnson
Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers): Mitchell Thompson

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