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Colgate University

Colgate University is based in the town of Hamilton, NY — a private campus in a small-town setting. International students are a visible presence at Colgate University — 8.1% of its 3,180 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$3,341

family income
under $30k

$9,345

$30–48k

$17,685

$48–75k

$31,027

$75–110k

$53,119

over $110k

Average net price

$28,7862023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Colgate University rose from $19,960 (2008) to $28,786 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$19,960
2009	$16,154
2010	$16,376
2011	$17,364
2012	$17,711
2013	$23,146
2014	$22,687
2015	$23,947
2016	$23,310
2017	$26,041
2018	$25,834
2019	$27,775
2020	$24,489
2021	$24,052
2022	$28,920
2023	$28,786

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$87,0702024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Colgate University rose from $51,090 (2009) to $87,070 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$51,090
2010	$52,880
2011	$54,030
2012	$55,570
2013	$57,745
2014	$60,050
2015	$62,405
2016	$64,800
2017	$67,290
2018	$69,860
2019	$72,275
2020	$75,000
2021	$77,580
2022	$80,160
2023	$83,650
2024	$87,070

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2001	$27,025
2002	$28,355
2003	$29,940
2004	$31,440
2005	$32,885
2006	$34,795
2007	$37,660
2008	$39,545
2013	$46,380
2014	$48,175
2015	$49,970
2016	$51,955
2017	$53,980
2018	$55,870
2019	$58,045
2020	$60,015
2021	$61,966
2022	$64,290
2023	$67,024

IPEDS Published price 2001–02 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $70,306 before grants and other attendance costs. At Colgate University, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 3,180 undergrads, Colgate University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

91.2% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Colgate University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

91.2%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Colgate University has held near 91.2% from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	84.9%
1992 cohort	88.8%
1993 cohort	88.7%
1994 cohort	89.1%
1995 cohort	88.4%
1996 cohort	88%
1997 cohort	88.6%
1998 cohort	89.3%
1999 cohort	91.1%
2000 cohort	89.3%
2001 cohort	89.9%
2002 cohort	91.2%
2003 cohort	89.9%
2004 cohort	87.9%
2005 cohort	91.6%
2006 cohort	89.6%
2007 cohort	90.9%
2008 cohort	92.4%
2009 cohort	89.6%
2010 cohort	89.9%
2011 cohort	91.2%
2012 cohort	88.9%
2013 cohort	90.6%
2014 cohort	90.9%
2015 cohort	90.3%
2016 cohort	91.3%
2017 cohort	90.5%
2018 cohort	91.2%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$13,425	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$13,425	$3,281
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$13,385	$3,550
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$13,245	$3,250
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$13,126	$2,900
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$13,625	$3,000
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$11,625	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$13,875	$11,250
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,251	$4,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$14,500	$4,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$13,625	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$14,250	$4,183
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$15,626	$4,819
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$15,625	$4,284
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$15,625	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$16,115	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$16,125	$5,750
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$16,125	$7,750
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$16,125	$6,383
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$15,750	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$16,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$15,000	$5,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$64,949

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$74,696

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$85,139

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Colgate University admitted 2,871 of 20,682 applicants in Fall 2024. The 13.9% rate describes that application pool.

13.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $67,024 tuition · 2023–24 3,180 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1430–15401600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Colgate University received 20,682 applications and admitted 2,871 (13.9%), with 825 enrolling.

Colgate University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Colgate University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 710–760 and Math was 720–780 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1430–1540 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	710	740	760
SAT Math	720	760	780
ACT Composite	33	34	34

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

13.9%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

The share admitted at Colgate University declined from 37% to 13.9%; this does not establish why. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	37%
Fall 2002	33.7%
Fall 2003	31.3%
Fall 2004	33.4%
Fall 2005	27.1%
Fall 2006	28.2%
Fall 2007	8.5%
Fall 2008	23.9%
Fall 2009	31.5%
Fall 2010	33%
Fall 2011	29.4%
Fall 2012	29.3%
Fall 2013	26.4%
Fall 2014	26.2%
Fall 2015	27.4%
Fall 2016	28.8%
Fall 2017	28.1%
Fall 2018	24.9%
Fall 2019	22.6%
Fall 2020	27.5%
Fall 2021	17.2%
Fall 2022	12.4%
Fall 2023	11.9%
Fall 2024	13.9%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1430–1540Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1240	1400
Fall 2002	1240	1410
Fall 2003	1270	1430
Fall 2004	1270	1430
Fall 2005	1280	1430
Fall 2006	1270	1440
Fall 2007	1250	1430
Fall 2008	1270	1460
Fall 2009	1270	1440
Fall 2010	1270	1460
Fall 2011	1260	1440
Fall 2012	1270	1450
Fall 2013	1270	1460
Fall 2014	1280	1470
Fall 2015	1250	1450
Fall 2016	1290	1460
Fall 2017	1310	1500
Fall 2018	1320	1510
Fall 2019	1330	1500
Fall 2020	1300	1470
Fall 2021	1350	1500
Fall 2022	1410	1530
Fall 2023	1430	1530
Fall 2024	1430	1540

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

33–34Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	28	31
Fall 2002	27	31
Fall 2003	28	32
Fall 2004	28	32
Fall 2005	29	32
Fall 2006	28	32
Fall 2007	29	32
Fall 2008	29	32
Fall 2009	29	32
Fall 2010	29	32
Fall 2011	30	32
Fall 2012	30	32
Fall 2013	30	32
Fall 2014	29	32
Fall 2015	30	33
Fall 2016	30	33
Fall 2017	31	33
Fall 2018	31	34
Fall 2019	31	34
Fall 2020	30	33
Fall 2021	32	34
Fall 2022	32	34
Fall 2023	33	34
Fall 2024	33	34

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

3,180Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Colgate University rose from 2,786 (Fall 2002) to 3,180 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	2,786
Fall 2003	2,768
Fall 2004	2,800
Fall 2005	2,743
Fall 2006	2,756
Fall 2007	2,800
Fall 2008	2,806
Fall 2009	2,799
Fall 2010	2,868
Fall 2011	2,927
Fall 2012	2,850
Fall 2013	2,872
Fall 2014	2,865
Fall 2015	2,834
Fall 2016	2,868
Fall 2017	2,852
Fall 2018	2,934
Fall 2019	2,964
Fall 2020	3,032
Fall 2021	3,153
Fall 2022	3,124
Fall 2023	3,122
Fall 2024	3,180

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

93%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Colgate University has held near 93% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	95%
Fall 2003 cohort	94%
Fall 2004 cohort	91%
Fall 2005 cohort	94%
Fall 2006 cohort	94%
Fall 2007 cohort	94%
Fall 2008 cohort	95%
Fall 2009 cohort	93%
Fall 2010 cohort	95%
Fall 2011 cohort	95%
Fall 2012 cohort	93%
Fall 2013 cohort	95%
Fall 2014 cohort	95%
Fall 2015 cohort	94%
Fall 2016 cohort	94%
Fall 2017 cohort	94%
Fall 2018 cohort	95%
Fall 2019 cohort	94%
Fall 2020 cohort	93%
Fall 2021 cohort	94%
Fall 2022 cohort	93%
Fall 2023 cohort	93%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Colgate University

12.5% of Colgate University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Colgate University as a primarily residential campus of 3,180 undergraduates — and 93.4% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Colgate University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1430–1540 — their midpoint is above the NY four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Colgate University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Colgate University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Colgate University13.9%

New York median70.1%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Colgate University$70,306

New York median$17,408

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Colgate University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Colgate University$85,139

New York median$60,236

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Colgate University, New York and national reference values
Metric & basis	Colgate University	New York median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	13.9%	70.1%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$70,306	$17,408	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$85,139	$60,236	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Colgate University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Colgate University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 10 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$161,980
Economics	$128,887
Political Science and Government	$83,188
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$81,802
International Relations and National Security Studies	$77,199
History	$75,784
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$70,760
English Language and Literature, General	$60,702
Biology, General	$57,996
Education, General	$57,530

These 10 fields listed for Colgate University measure earnings after completion. The $85,139 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 33 additional Colgate University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Colgate University report?

Colgate University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1430–1540 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Colgate University's acceptance rate?

13.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 2,871 admitted from 20,682 applicants.

How much does Colgate University cost?

At Colgate University, tuition is $70,306. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Colgate University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $85,139. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in New York

Columbia University in the City of New York — 4% admitted
Circle in the Square Theatre School — 8% admitted
Cornell University — 8.8% admitted
Barnard College — 8.8% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.