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Colgate University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 77/100

Colgate University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Hamilton, New York

About Colgate University

Colgate University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Hamilton, New York. It enrolls 3,180 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.

Official website: colgate.edu

Acceptance: 13.9%
Graduation: 88.9%
Net Price: $28,786
Median Earnings (10yr): $85,139
Enrollment: 3,180
Student : Faculty: 9:1

Accreditor New England Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

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.

Strong

77/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 94

Value 60

Affordability 11

Selectivity 96

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 13.9%, Colgate University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

13.9%

Very Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1430 – 1540

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

33 – 34

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized 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 Colgate University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective ↓ 10.6 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Colgate University 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 $28,786 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$28,786

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

13%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

12%

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: $70,306
Room & Board (on-campus): $17,610
Books & Supplies: $1,570
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,736
Total Cost of Attendance: $87,070

Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)

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

$6,086
$30,001 – $48,000

$2,678
$48,001 – $75,000

$13,617
$75,001 – $110,000

$21,831
Over $110,000

$48,234

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.

$5,000

10% percentile

$8,000

25% percentile

$15,000

Median percentile

$18,859

75% percentile

$25,333

90% 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 $10,493 ↓ $4,507

No Pell $15,250 ↑ $250

Female students $14,210 ↓ $790

Male students $12,000 ↓ $3,000

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,750, less than completers ($15,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

89% of full-time students who enrolled at Colgate University graduate within six years, and 93% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

89%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

93%

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 Colgate University earn a median of $85,139 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$85,139

Earning > $25K

89%

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

$75,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$88,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$67,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$71,100

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$88,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $13,200, about 15% 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.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 6.4 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Colgate University is home to 3,180 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

3,180

Part-Time

First-Generation

18%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 64.3% 2,043

Hispanic 9.6% 306

International 8.1% 257

Other 6.3% 199

Asian 5.3% 169

Black 4.3% 137

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Colgate University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Rural: Distant Hamilton, New York

Housing

Strongly residential 2,958 beds for 3,180 students

Adult Learners

0% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Colgate University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 42 distinct programs across 16 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.

3 Programs

Biology

Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)

1 Program

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

5 Programs

Physical Sciences

Physics $77K ($52K–$103K)
Geosciences $60K ($44K–$78K)
Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)

4 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)

3 Programs

Philosophy & Religion

Philosophy $54K ($35K–$78K)
Religion/Religious Studies $41K ($21K–$65K)
Religion/Religious Studies $41K ($21K–$65K)

1 Program

English

English $49K ($34K–$64K)

1 Program

History

History $51K ($36K–$67K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Colgate University is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty

9:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$1.6B

Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability

Avg Faculty Salary

$114,636

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

347 instructional faculty across 5 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	97	28%	$162,021
Associate Professors	87	25%	$118,395
Assistant Professors	70	20%	$101,099
Instructors	59	17%	$75,739
Lecturers	34	10%	$65,201

Pros & Cons of Colgate University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Colgate University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

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

Above-average net price
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

Best for: Based on the data, Colgate University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.

Frequently Asked Questions about Colgate University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Colgate University.

Is Colgate University hard to get into?

Colgate University is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 13.9%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.

What is the acceptance rate at Colgate University?

Colgate University has an acceptance rate of 13.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Colgate University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Colgate University scored between 1430 and 1540 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 Colgate University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Colgate University scored between 33 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Colgate University cost?

The average net price after aid at Colgate University is $28,786 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Colgate University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $85,139 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,786 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Colgate University known for?

Colgate University is best known for its programs in Economics, Political Science, Experimental Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Colgate University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Colgate University are $85,139, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Colgate University accredited?

Yes. Colgate University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Colgate University?

Colgate University enrolls 3,180 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Colgate University?

Colgate University graduates 89% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Colgate University a public or private college?

Colgate University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Colgate University located?

Colgate University is located in Hamilton, New York.

What programs does Colgate University offer?

Colgate University offers 42 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Political Science, Experimental Psychology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Colgate University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Colgate University is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.