Overview of Colby College

Colby College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 13%. Situated in Waterville, Maine, Colby frequently ranks among the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the country. The 714-acre campus includes a 128-acre arboretum. Students have 58-degree options from which to choose, and the college boasts of a 10-to-1 student/faculty ratio.  Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 2,000 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 48 percent male/52 percent female
• 100 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $57,280
• Books: $800
• Room and Board: $14,720
• Other Expenses: $800
• Total Cost: $73,600

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 52 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 48 percent
  • Loans: 15 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $43,218
  • Loans: $6,126

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Natural Resources and Conservation; Psychology; and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 94 percent
• Transfer-Out Rate: 6 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 88 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 90 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew-Rowing, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Crew-Rowing, Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball

Overview of Colby College Admissions

Colby College has a very competitive admissions process with a low acceptance rate. The institution is test-optional, meaning that students can choose whether or not to submit scores from the SAT or ACT. This institution has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, Colby College had an acceptance rate of 13%.  for every 100 students who submitted applications, 13 students gained admission, making Colby’s admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

Applicants to Colby may submit SAT or ACT scores to the institution, but they are not required. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 56% of admitted students provided SAT scores.

Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, Colby’s admitted students scored in the top 20% on the SAT. 50% of students admitted to Colby College scored between 670 and 740 for the reading and writing section, while 25% scored below 670, and 25% scored over 740. In the math section, 50% of students who gained admission scored 680 and 770, while 25% scored below 680, and 25% scored over 770. The data tells us that a cumulative SAT score of 1510 or higher is competitive for Colby.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Applicants can submit SAT or ACT scores to the institution, but they are not required. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 49% of admitted students provided ACT scores.

Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, Colby’s admitted students scored in the top 5% on the ACT. The median 50% of students admitted to Colby received a cumulative ACT score between 31 and 33, while 25% scored over 33, and 25% scored below 31.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Colby College, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Colby College is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Villanova University, Binghamton University, University of California, Santa Barbara, Stony Brook University, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Connecticut, University of California, Davis

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Colby College, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Northeastern University, Emory University, University of Michigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Boston University, Boston College

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Colby College. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

Princeton University, Carnegie Mellon University, Yale University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Dartmouth College

Applying to Colby College

Application Deadline: January 1

Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://www.colby.edu/admission/

Undergraduate Application Link(s): https://www.commonapp.org/