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Private 4-Year Highly Selective Hamilton, NY NCAA Division I-FCS

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY

13.9%
Acceptance Rate
$91,222/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$28,786/yr
Avg Price After Aid
90.9%
6-yr Grad Rate
3,180
Undergrads

About Colgate University

Colgate University is a private nonprofit institution with an undergraduate enrollment of 3,180 students and a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university has a 13.9% acceptance rate and a 6-year graduation rate of 90.9%. The annual cost of attendance is $91,222, with 12.5% of students receiving Pell grants.

Type
Private 4-Year
Undergrads
3,180
Avg Faculty Salary
$117,878
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FCS
Endowment
$1.3B
Pell Students
12.5%
First-Gen
18.1%
What Colgate University Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Molecular Biology 28 graduates · 3.8% of degrees here vs 0.04% nationally 93×
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 95 graduates · 13% of degrees here vs 0.76% nationally 17×
International Relations and Affairs 37 graduates · 5.1% of degrees here vs 0.32% nationally 16×
Research and Experimental Psychology 62 graduates · 8.5% of degrees here vs 0.6% nationally 14×
Political Science and Government 80 graduates · 11% of degrees here vs 1.74% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
13.9%
Acceptance rate · Highly Selective
19.5%
ED Rate
21,130
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$28,786 avg net
Average net price after aid
$6,086
Under $30K income
$1.3B
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$64,949 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
90.9%
6-yr Grad Rate
$15,000
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Colgate University Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
13.9%
21,130 applicants
Early Decision Rate
19.5%
ED applications: 2,447

Colgate University is highly selective with a 13.9% acceptance rate and an undergraduate enrollment of 3,180 students. The institution maintains a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and reports a 90.9% six-year graduation rate.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 7 applicants is admitted · 21,130 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1430–1540
40080012001600
GPA Distribution — Enrolled Students
8-band breakdown · Source: Common Data Set
4.0
29.41%
3.75–3.99
41.5%
3.50–3.74
23.2%
3.25–3.49
5.56%
3.00–3.24
0.33%
2.50–2.99
0.2%
2.00–2.49
Below 2.0

Admissions Requirements

Admission Factor Weights
Official weights from submitted institutional data · Source: Common Data Set, section C7
Rigor of coursework Very Important
Class rank Very Important
Academic GPA Very Important
Standardized test scores Important
Application essay Important
Recommendations Important
Class Rank Profile
25% of students submitted rank · Source: Common Data Set
Top 10th of class
79%
Top quarter
97%
Top half
99%
Waitlist Statistics
Source: Common Data Set
2,433
Offered spot
1,338
Accepted offer
48
Admitted from WL
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 9,779 1,064 10.9% 351
Women 11,351 1,462 12.9% 456
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Colgate University admits 13.9% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 74%.

Acceptance rate
This school
13.9%
Similar colleges (1,009)
73.8%
NY (194)
73.5%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Colgate University Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$28,786
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$15,000
Federal Loan Rate
12.3%
Students borrowing federal loans

Colgate University has a cost of attendance of $91,222 with 12.5% of students receiving Pell grants. The school's substantial endowment of $1.3 billion supports financial aid distribution.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$91,222
Tuition & Fees
$70,306
77%
Room & Board
$17,610
19%
Books & Supplies
$1,570
2%
Other Expenses
$1,736
2%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
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

* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
85%
Federal loans
12%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $159.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Colgate University costs $28,786 a year — about 27% more than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$87,070
Similar colleges (1,094)
$49,718
NY (242)
$26,836
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
84.9%
Similar colleges (998)
91.8%
NY (252)
86.1%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$15,000
Similar colleges (1,032)
$24,977
NY (259)
$14,745
Syracuse-Auburn, NY (16)
$13,500
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$28,786
Similar colleges (1,105)
$22,585
NY (340)
$17,993
Syracuse-Auburn, NY (15)
$19,002
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Colgate University Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
90.9%
Median Earnings 6yr
$64,949
6 years after entering

Colgate University has a 90.9% six-year graduation rate. Graduates earn a median of $64,949 six years after enrollment and $85,139 ten years after enrollment.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$69,640
Men
$63,530
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
94.3%
Pell recipients
89.2%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics95
Political Science and Government, General80
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other62
Computer Science42
International Relations and Affairs37
Neuroscience35
English Language and Literature, General31
Biology/Biological Sciences, General30
Environmental Studies30
History, General30
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Black
93.6%
White
91.9%
Hispanic
90.7%
Asian
90%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Colgate University are $74,696, and 79% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Colgate University students earn $64,949 — 43% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$85,139
Similar colleges (1,077)
$54,064
NY (280)
$48,123
Syracuse-Auburn, NY (15)
$55,763
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$64,949
Similar colleges (1,077)
$45,468
NY (292)
$40,179
Syracuse-Auburn, NY (16)
$43,059
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
90.9%
Similar colleges (1,074)
58.1%
NY (181)
57.5%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
93.1%
Similar colleges (1,117)
76.6%
NY (157)
81.8%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Colgate University Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Colgate University is a private nonprofit institution with 3,180 undergraduates and a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university competes as an NCAA Division I-FCS program with athletic revenue of $19.4 million.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
64.3%
Asian
5.3%
Hispanic
9.6%
Black
4.3%
Other Indicators
First-generation
18.1%
Pell grant recipients
12.5%
Women
56.8%
Colgate University Athletics
Total Revenue
$19.4M
Total Expense
$19.4M
Athletes
749
405 men · 344 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$200,014
Women's sports
$126,045

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$9,260,571
Women's aid
$7,453,833
Academic Resources
351
Full-time faculty
$117,878
Avg faculty salary
2,753
FT staff
$1.3B
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$122,087
Women (avg)
$113,294
Overall avg
$117,878
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
3,180
Graduate students
18
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
20.2%

628 of 3,111 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
0%
Undergrads taking any
0%
Grad students fully online
0%

0 of 3,131 undergraduates study entirely at a distance.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

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

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Colgate University spends $14,909 per student on research — about a typical similar college.

Pell grant share
This school
12.5%
Similar colleges (1,171)
32.8%
NY (359)
39.6%
Syracuse-Auburn, NY (16)
34.8%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$14,909
Similar colleges (1,164)
$6,264
NY (257)
$5,954
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
9:1
Similar colleges (1,191)
12:1
NY (366)
14:1
Syracuse-Auburn, NY (16)
14:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Colgate University
47 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
729 graduates
Social Sciences 263 grads · 7 majors
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 95
Political Science and Government, General 80
International Relations and Affairs 37
Sociology, General 28
Geography 12
Anthropology, General 10
Social Sciences, General 1
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 108 grads · 4 majors
Neuroscience 35
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 30
Molecular Biology 28
Biochemistry 15
Psychology 62 grads · 1 major
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 62
Computer and Information Sciences 42 grads · 1 major
Computer Science 42
Natural Resources and Conservation 37 grads · 2 majors
Environmental Studies 30
Environmental Science 7
Physical Sciences 35 grads · 5 majors
Physics, General 14
Astrophysics 9
Geology/Earth Science, General 9
Chemistry, General 2
Physical Sciences, General 1
English Language and Literature 31 grads · 1 major
English Language and Literature, General 31
History 30 grads · 1 major
History, General 30
Visual and Performing Arts 28 grads · 4 majors
Film/Cinema/Media Studies 16
Art/Art Studies, General 8
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 2
Music, General 2
Philosophy and Religious Studies 26 grads · 2 majors
Philosophy 22
Religion/Religious Studies 4
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 18 grads · 6 majors
German Language and Literature 7
Spanish Language and Literature 5
Chinese Language and Literature 3
Classics and Classical Languages,... 1
French Language and Literature 1
Japanese Language and Literature 1
Multidisciplinary Studies 16 grads · 4 majors
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution 13
Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and... 1
Mathematics and Computer Science 1
Natural Sciences 1
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 13 grads · 5 majors
Russian, Central European, East European... 5
Women's Studies 4
Area Studies, Other 2
American Indian/Native American Studies 1
Near and Middle Eastern Studies 1
Education 12 grads · 1 major
Education, General 12
Mathematics and Statistics 7 grads · 2 majors
Applied Mathematics, General 4
Mathematics, General 3
Liberal Arts and General Studies 1 grads · 1 major
Humanities/Humanistic Studies 1
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Colgate University Location & Campus Safety

Colgate University is in Hamilton, NY, in what IPEDS classifies as a rural, distant setting. The campus sits about 1 miles from the center of Hamilton. There are 5 other colleges within 25 miles, and Utica, NY is 24.7 miles away.

Colgate University Other colleges within 30 miles
Rural, distant
Campus Setting
1 mi
To City Center
5
Colleges Within 25 mi
4,038
Hamilton Population
Living in Hamilton
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,123
Median Rent / mo
$62,000
Median Household Income
26.7%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
26.9%
Walk
47.5%
Public transit
2.8%

Madison County scores 6.0 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — below average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 68.7% of Hamilton's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near Colgate University
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Hamilton College 2,030 students 17.2 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, Colgate University to each campus

Campus Safety at Colgate University

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Colgate University reported for 2024.

6
On-Campus Offenses
6
In Residence Halls
1.9
Per 1,000 Students
13
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
13
2023
14
2024
6
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Burglary
3
Sexual offenses
2
Arson
1

Separately, Colgate University reported 89 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Colgate University admissions, costs, and outcomes.