Dartmouth College Announces Need-blind Admissions Policy for International Students

On January 12, Dartmouth University introduced a new admissions policy owing to which its previously existing need-blind policy will now also accommodate the international students. This means, international students applying to Dartmouth College from the year 2022 will be evaluated under the same need-blind process as the US citizens and other permanent residents. The announcement states that the international students will be offered financial aid if their family or parent’s income is assessed to be insufficient to cover the annual housing and tuition expenses, which is nearly 80,000 USD. Checkout: International student admission requirements at Dartmouth

Dartmouth President Philip Hanlon said in a statement that the institution is taking steps to attract talented students from all around the world without having to overcome "financial constraints." He added that the decision takes into consideration both native and international students on campus.

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According to the Financial Times, Dartmouth's decision comes at a time when university fees in the United States are skyrocketing, and there are growing concerns regarding the unpaid student debts, prompting calls for write-offs. Since 2013, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire has seen a steep rise in international student enrolment from 8%,i.e., nearly 1,150 students to 14% in the most recent enrollment stats. Hanlon, who had taken over the President’s office, believes that this number can go as high as 25% in the coming years.

Financial Times report also suggests that Dartmouth has upped its international student recruitment, moving away from the traditional pool of foreign students from wealthy families in Canada, Europe, China, and India. They are instead offering financial aid to students from economically weaker countries like Brazil, Kenya, and Vietnam.

Furthermore, Dartmouth College has become the first Ivy League institution in a decade to provide need-blind admission. Princeton, Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Yale, as well as Liberal Arts College in Amherst, had already taken this decision. Dartmouth's decision was made possible by the generous donations totalling to 90 million USD to the Call to Lead campaign, including a USD 40 million gift from an anonymous donor, which added to the endowment's USD 8.5 billion value.

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According to the Financial Times, a handful of US institutions have previously declared and reversed need-blind admission policies, citing financial difficulties during a period of growing expenses. There are several supporters as well as critics to this argument. While some claim that the change would increase diversity, others are concerned that students from low-income households may incur substantial student debt despite getting financial help. Reports also suggest that a USD 500 million fundraising campaign has been established for 2023, during which students will be able to switch to full scholarships from loans that were offered in the form of financial aid.

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