Dartmouth College vs Rivier University
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | Rivier University Nashua, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | +323% | +10% |
| 10-year net gain | $402,217 | $12,179 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $97,667 | $58,433 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $67,445 | $57,018 |
| Average net price | $29,519 | $28,082 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $26,956 |
| Break-even | 2.4 yrs | 9.1 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 96% | 52% |
| Admission rate | 5% | 83% |
Dartmouth College
Strong return
+$402,217 over 10 years
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
Rivier University
Break-even
+$12,179 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.