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Colgate University
With a 13.9% admission rate, no GPA makes Colgate University a safety. The numbers below tell you what the admitted few look like.
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Colgate University anchors the college town of Hamilton, NY, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. International students are a visible presence here — 8.1% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $161,980 four years out. 12.5% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 3,180 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 93.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1430 and 1530 — above the NY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Colgate University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Colgate University received 21,130 applications and admitted 2,526 (12%), with 807 enrolling.
You can apply to Colgate University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1430 and 1530; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 710 | 730 | 750 |
| SAT Math | 720 | 750 | 780 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 33 | 34 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Colgate University compares
| Colgate University | New York median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 13.9% | 70.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $70,306 | $17,408 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $85,139 | $60,236 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Colgate University: $85,139 median at year ten, versus $60,236 across New York institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $70,306 regardless of where you're from. At Colgate University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 3,180 undergrads, Colgate University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
91.2% of Colgate University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 36.3 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $70,306 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Colgate University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 10 Colgate University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $85,139 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 33 additional Colgate University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Colgate University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1430–1530 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 13.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Colgate University's acceptance rate?
12% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,526 admitted from 21,130 applicants.
How much does Colgate University cost?
At Colgate University, published tuition is $70,306 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Colgate University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Colgate University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $85,139 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
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
- Belanger School of Nursing — 0% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.