Overview of Colgate University

Colgate University is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 25%. Situated in Hamilton, in Upstate New York, Colgate frequently ranks among the top 25 liberal arts colleges in the country. Colgate offers 56-degree options and has earned a chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations. Colgate also has an impressive 90% 6-year graduation rate, and roughly two-thirds of students eventually go on to do some form of graduate study.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 2,969 (2,958 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 45 percent male/55 percent female
• 99 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $58,045
• Books: $1,100
• Room and Board: $14,540
• Other Expenses: $1,330
• Total Cost: $75,015

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 49 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 41 percent
  • Loans: 23 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $45,889
  • Loans: $4,592

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Economics, General; Political Science and Government, General; Psychology, General; English Language and Literature, General; and Neuroscience

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 94 percent
• Transfer-Out Rate: 8 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 84 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 89 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
• The Colgate Patriots play in the NCAA Division I Patriot League.

Overview of Colgate University Admissions

Colgate University has a highly competitive admissions process with a low acceptance rate and high mean GPAs and SAT/ACT scores. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants must complete an online application, and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. 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, Colgate University had an acceptance rate of 25%.  for every 100 students who submitted applications, 25 students gained admission, making Colgate’s admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

Colgate University requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 45% of admitted students provided SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that Colgate’s admitted students scored in the top 20% on the SAT. 50% of students admitted to Colgate scored between 650 and 730, while 25% scored below 650 for the reading and writing section, and 25% scored over 730. In the math section, 50% of students who gained admission scored 670 and 780, while 25% scored below 670, and 25% scored over 780. Applicants with a cumulative SAT score of 1510 or higher will have competitive chances at Colgate.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Colgate University requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 55% of admitted students provided ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that Colgate’s admitted students scored in the top 5% on the ACT. The median 50% of students admitted to Colgate received a cumulative ACT score between 30 and 33, while 25% scored over 33, and 25% scored below 30.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of Colgate’s freshmen class was 3.69, and  50% of students had a mean GPA of 3.75 and over. This information suggests that successful applicants to Colgate University have A grades primarily.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

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

University of California, Santa Barbara, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Stony Brook University, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Connecticut, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of California, Davis

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

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

University of Michigan, Georgia Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Boston University, Boston College, University of California, Los Angeles

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

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

Stanford University, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Tufts University, Duke University, Georgetown University

Applying to Colgate University

Application Deadline: January 15

Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://www.colgate.edu/admission-aid

Undergraduate Application Link(s): https://www.colgate.edu/admission-aid/apply

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://www.colgate.edu/success-after-colgate/graduate-and-professional-schools

Graduate Application Link(s): https://www.colgate.edu/about/campus-services-and-resources/graduate-school-application-preparation