Admit rate has ranged 12%–27% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Colgate University is a fiercely selective liberal arts college in rural New York that punches far above its weight in economic outcomes (ranked #2 nationally) and graduate success. With an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, a 91% graduation rate, and a campus culture deeply shaped by Greek life and Division I athletics, Colgate offers a distinctly high-achieving yet socially tight-knit experience—if you can stomach the $91K sticker price.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
3,180
In-state tuition
$70,306
Out-of-state tuition
$70,306
Acceptance Rate
11.95%
Graduation Rate
91%
On-Campus Housing
93%
Total Annual Cost
$91,222
Student-Faculty Ratio
8:1
Median Starting Salary
$81,100
Greek Life Participation
Dominates social scene
Average Financial Aid Package
$69,907
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$85,139
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.0×
Median debt at graduation
$15,000
Graduation rate
91%
First-year retention
93%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
86%
Pell (lower-income) share
42%
First-generation share
18%
Endowment / student
$394,552
Financial health
2.6 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$67,995
Computer Science$66,171
International Relations and National Security Studies$53,775
Political Science and Government$53,358
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$47,260
Psychology, General$47,260
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.31
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
76°F
Winter low
18°F
Annual rain
49"
Annual snow
64.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
188
Scholarly works
8,533
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.9%
Bottom → top quintile
37%
From bottom quintile
2%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Colgate University?
Colgate University's acceptance rate is approximately 14% (Hamilton, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Colgate University?
Admitted students at Colgate University typically score 1430–1540 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Colgate University cost?
At Colgate University, the average net price (after aid) is about $28,786 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Colgate University?
Colgate University enrolls approximately 3,180 undergraduate students.
Where is Colgate University located?
Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY.
Admissions
Colgate's admissions process is brutally selective, with an 11.95% overall Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. and Early Decision rates hovering between 23-40% depending on the year. The middle 50% SAT range is 1460–1530, ACT 33–35, with 78% of admitted students in the top 10% of their high school class. Notably, 93% of students live on campus, creating a residential intensity that admissions heavily factors into its decisions.
Early Decision advantage: ED acceptance rates are nearly double the regular rate (22.94% for Class of 2028 vs. ~12% overall)
Demographics: 89% of admits come from the top 20% of their high school class, with an average GPA of 3.81
Contact: Admissions office can be reached at 315-228-7401 or admission@colgate.edu
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$44,942
Philosophy$43,798
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Colgate's 57 majors emphasize a classic liberal arts core with particular strength in economics, political science, and the sciences (neuroscience and biology each account for 4% of majors). The 8:1 student-faculty ratio enables unusually close mentorship, with alumni frequently citing professors' accessibility as transformative. Standout programs include:
Economics: A feeder for Wall Street and consulting firms
Classics: Unusually strong pipeline to law schools
Environmental Studies: Leverages the rural campus's natural surroundings
Pre-professional tracks in medicine and business are robust, with the university noting that 'for years, Colgate has prepared students for medical school, law school, [and] business school' at rates exceeding peer institutions.
Life at Colgate revolves around Greek life (which dominates the social scene) and Division I athletics, creating a culture that's both academically intense and unabashedly collegiate. The isolated Hamilton, NY location (nearest city is Syracuse, 45 minutes away) forces a tight-knit community where 93% of students live on campus.
Housing: Only 7% live off-campus, with first-years required to live in dorms
Social dynamics: Described by students as 'predominantly white and rich,' with fraternities/sororities controlling most parties
Counterprogramming: Outdoor education programs and clubs like WHCL radio provide alternatives to Greek life
Campus traditions include 'Torchlight Ceremony' during orientation and 'Winterfest'—a nod to the brutal upstate New York winters students endure together.
Colgate's #2 national ranking for economic outcomes (per a 2023 study) reflects its extraordinary ROI. A 91% graduation rate and 98% athlete graduation success rate underscore the institution's focus on completion.
Median starting salary: $81,100 (well above liberal arts college averages)
STEM pipeline: 47% of graduates feel their jobs have 'a lot of meaning'
The outcomes data suggests Colgate's blend of rigorous academics and strong alumni networks (particularly in finance and law) delivers exceptional post-grad traction.
At $91,222 total annual cost, Colgate is among the most expensive liberal arts colleges—but 33.84% of students receive aid, with an average package of $69,907 bringing the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to $26,954 for recipients.
Institutional methodology: Meets 100% of demonstrated need, but 'gapping' (not covering full need) does occur
Net price calculator: The university emphasizes using its official tool for accurate estimates
While Colgate's aid is generous for those who qualify, the sticker price reflects its positioning as a 'luxury' liberal arts option with Ivy-adjacent outcomes.
Colgate delivers Ivy-level outcomes without the Ivy League pretension—a place where future Wall Streeters and Supreme Court clerks cheer at hockey games in matching Patagonia. Its singular blend includes:
Rural intensity: The isolation creates an 'all-in' culture where students bond over both Nietzsche and snowstorms
Outsized ROI: That #2 economic outcomes ranking beats most Ivies
Controlled chaos: A student body that pulls all-nighters in the library by week and rages at frats by weekend
For students who thrive in a high-pressure, high-reward environment with a distinctly collegiate vibe, Colgate offers one of the most potent liberal arts experiences in America.
Colgate University logo · sourceA Sense of Place - This is Colgate. · sourceOur Location | Colgate University · sourceColgate at a Glance | Colgate University · source
