Quad

Colgate University

Hamilton, NYQuad's selectivityHighly selective
Known forTop test scoresHigh earnersFew students borrowHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2026: 16,774 applied (fall 2024: 20,682)Colgate University (Fall 2026)
  • Fall 2026: 3,416 admits (fall 2024: 2,871)Colgate University (Fall 2026)
  • Fall 2026: 20% admitted (fall 2024: 14%)Colgate University (Fall 2026)

Source:Colgate University (Fall 2026), Fall 2026About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2026

1 in 5 applicants admitted

Colgate admits about 1 in 5 applicants (20%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 95% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

20%

20%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityHighly selective

Applied

16,774

Admitted

3,416

Yield

24%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.85

SAT middle 50%

1430–1540

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–34

1836
Applications +137% since fall 2014 · admit rate 26% → 14%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,180 undergrads, where 13% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

3.2K

undergrads · larger than 70% of colleges

Diversity index

0.56

Pell Grant

13%

below the median

First generation

18%

below the median

Rural, distantFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-I FCS · Patriot LeagueStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.53 → 0.56 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (14% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 93% of faculty are full-time. Spends $29,447 a year on instruction per student.

9 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 84% of colleges

Most popular major

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

14% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$162K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

93%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$29.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $62,204 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $37.9K more than the national median. The 43% who received grants paid $28,736 on average; the other 57% paid the full sticker price of $87,070.

29%

$62.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $37.9K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$87,070 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
None
all grants are need-based
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 29% of full price

Federal loans

12%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +7% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $85,139 ten years after enrolling, more than at 94% of colleges; 91% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.9 years of that salary.

91%

91%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$85.1K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$15K

≈ $159/month for 10 years

Retention

93%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 92% → 91% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 10% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 137% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 26% to 14%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +7% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +137%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 26% → 14% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.53 → 0.56

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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University of Richmond

22% admit · SAT 1470 · 3K undergrads

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Oberlin College

34% admit · SAT 1440 · 2.9K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Colgate University (Fall 2026)

    Colgate University · Fall 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    Colgate University Common Data Set 2024–25

    Colgate University · Fall 2024; 2024–25; Fall 2025 entrants; Fall 2025 cycle; 2025–26; Class of 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    Colgate University (2026–27)

    Colgate University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  14. 14
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  21. 21
    Colgate University (2026)

    Colgate University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 190099 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything