GradROI
ROI Comparison · 2026

Tuck (Dartmouth) vs Yale SOM

Tuck and Yale SOM are both top-14 MBAs at Ivies but with radically different profiles. Tuck is rural (Hanover, NH), small (~290/cohort), and intensely-networked with the highest alumni giving rate in the US. Yale SOM is New Haven-based, mission-driven, and integrates with Yale Law/Med/SPH.

Head-to-Head: Key Metrics

MetricTuck (Dartmouth)Yale SOM
Tuition (per year)$84,250Better$90,900
Median Starting Salary$170,000Better$165,000
10-Year Net ROI (est.)$390,000Better$350,000
Acceptance Rate22.5%25.0%Better
Duration2 years2 years
US News Ranking#10#9Better

Green highlight = better on that metric. Tuition: lower is better. Salary/ROI: higher is better. Acceptance: higher = easier to get in. Duration: shorter = less opportunity cost.

Who Should Choose Which?

General manager aspirant — consulting then industry

→ Tuck (Dartmouth): Tuck's 95% placement rate + intimate class size + alumni engagement is GM-career gold.

Social impact / nonprofit leader

→ Yale SOM: Yale SOM's mission-driven culture + cross-reg with Yale SPH = strongest nonprofit placement.

International student prioritizing employment visa

→ Tuck (Dartmouth): Tuck's smaller class + strong employment support = higher per-capita sponsor rate.

Strengths & Trade-offs

Tuck (Dartmouth)

Most intimate top-tier MBA (~290/cohort) in rural New Hampshire; strongest alumni engagement rate.

Strengths

  • Smallest top-14 MBA class (~290) — most intimate community
  • Highest alumni giving rate of any US MBA — signals network commitment
  • 95% employment within 3 months of graduation

Trade-offs

  • Rural Hanover, NH — isolated from major metros
  • Limited local recruiting outside alumni network pull
  • Small class means fewer niche elective offerings
Yale SOM

Mission-driven two-year MBA with strongest social-impact + nonprofit placement and cross-Yale university integration.

Strengths

  • Strongest social impact + nonprofit placement among US top-14
  • Cross-registration with Yale Law, Med, SPH
  • Integrated Curriculum — interdisciplinary by design

Trade-offs

  • Lower median base salary than peer top-14 ($165k vs $170-$182k)
  • New Haven is small — smaller recruiting footprint than Boston/NYC
  • Mission-driven culture may not fit traditional IB/consulting focused applicants

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition comparison?

Tuck 2025-26 is $84,250/year; Yale SOM 2026-27 is $90,900/year. Yale is ~8% more expensive.

Starting salary differences?

Tuck Class of 2024 median base was ~$170,000; Yale SOM was $165,000. Tuck edges slightly higher, likely due to its heavier consulting mix.

Which is more selective?

Tuck: ~22.5% admit rate. Yale SOM: ~25%. Both are mid-tier selective within the top-14.

Is Yale SOM worth the premium for social impact?

If your career is explicitly social-sector (nonprofit CEO, impact investing, government), yes — Yale SOM's network there is unmatched. For traditional MBA outcomes, Tuck's ROI is cleaner.

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