Colby College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Waterville, Maine. It enrolls 2,407 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Excellent
87/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes93
Value90
Affordability36
Selectivity97
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 7.1%, Colby College is among the most selective colleges in the country.
Acceptance Rate
7.1%
Highly Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1460 – 1550
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
32 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Colby College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
2.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Colby College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,180 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,180
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
9%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$69,600
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,890
Room & Board (off-campus)
$6,370
Books & Supplies
$850
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$850
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$850
Total Cost of Attendance
$85,420
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$4,049
$30,001 – $48,000
$1,251
$48,001 – $75,000
$3,666
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,106
Over $110,000
$46,511
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$8,79025%percentile
$19,157Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$27,49590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,450
↓ $7,707
No Pell $17,500
↓ $1,657
Female students $14,849
↓ $4,308
Male students $17,000
↓ $2,157
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,730, less than completers ($19,157), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
92% of full-time students who enrolled at Colby College graduate within six years, and 92% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
92%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
92%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Colby College earn a median of $80,490 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$80,490
Earning > $25K
91%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$59,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$85,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $25,400, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
3.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Colby College is home to 2,407 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,407
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
11%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 54.9%1,321
International 11.2%269
Asian 10.2%246
Hispanic 8.4%202
Other 7.4%177
Black 4.8%115
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Colby College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteWaterville, Maine
Housing
Strongly residential2,260 beds for 2,407 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Colby College offers
a varied set of programs:
35 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colby College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.8B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$113,416
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
250 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
57
23%
$160,530
Associate Professors
69
28%
$117,033
Assistant Professors
87
35%
$95,542
Instructors
32
13%
$76,919
Lecturers
4
2%
$79,251
No Rank
1
0%
$38,000
Pros & Cons of Colby College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Colby College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Colby College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colby College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Colby College.
Is Colby College hard to get into?
Yes. Colby College is among the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 7.1%. Successful applicants typically have top-decile test scores and strong academic, extracurricular, and recommendation profiles.
What is the acceptance rate at Colby College?
Colby College has an acceptance rate of 7.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Colby College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Colby College scored between 1460 and 1550 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Colby College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Colby College scored between 32 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Colby College cost?
The average net price after aid at Colby College is $17,180 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Colby College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $80,490 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,180 per year. That's roughly 4.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Colby College known for?
Colby College is best known for its programs in Economics, Political Science, Natural Resources Conservation and Research. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Colby College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Colby College are $80,490, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Colby College accredited?
Yes. Colby College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Colby College?
Colby College enrolls 2,407 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Colby College?
Colby College graduates 92% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Colby College a public or private college?
Colby College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Colby College located?
Colby College is located in Waterville, Maine.
What programs does Colby College offer?
Colby College offers 35 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Political Science, Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Colby College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colby College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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