Liberal arts college
#17 Best colleges for education in AmericaColgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $28,786 a year
Median debt at graduation: $15,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for education in America#17 of 1,318
- Best colleges in America#36 of 1,829
- Best test-optional colleges in America#32 of 1,481
- Best colleges for psychology in America#31 of 1,418
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#32 of 1,358
- Best colleges for art and design in America#30 of 1,187
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- Best colleges for English in America#35 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#35 of 1,247
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#35 of 1,215
- Best colleges for music in America#32 of 1,063
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#35 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#35 of 1,116
- Best mid-size colleges in America#22 of 667
- Best colleges for computer science in America#27 of 750
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#66 of 1,829
- Best colleges for economics in America#35 of 788
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#37 of 690
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#20 of 367
- Most selective colleges in America#50 of 683
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in America#53 of 684
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#73 of 704
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#80 of 682
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in America#105 of 704
- Best value colleges in the Northeast in America#38 of 239
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#116 of 693
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#110 of 598
- Best value colleges in America#141 of 674
In New York
- Best test-optional colleges in New York#3 of 125
- Best colleges for education in New York#2 of 78
- Best colleges in New York#4 of 135
- Best colleges for art and design in New York#3 of 85
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in New York#5 of 135
- Best colleges for psychology in New York#4 of 96
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- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in New York#4 of 88
- Best colleges for history in New York#4 of 82
- Best mid-size colleges in New York#3 of 61
- Best colleges for English in New York#4 of 81
- Best colleges for mathematics in New York#4 of 81
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in New York#4 of 79
- Best colleges for music in New York#3 of 59
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in New York#4 of 77
- Best colleges for chemistry in New York#4 of 76
- Best colleges for economics in New York#4 of 73
- Best colleges for computer science in New York#3 of 46
- Most selective colleges in New York#8 of 79
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in New York#9 of 79
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in New York#9 of 75
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in New York#10 of 80
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in New York#13 of 80
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in New York#13 of 80
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in New York#4 of 23
- Best value colleges in New York#16 of 75
- Best value colleges in the Northeast in New York#16 of 75
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in New York#15 of 67
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.91%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.93%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,508 · ACT 33.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.9 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$29,447
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $87,070 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,131 |
|---|---|
| Men and women Undergraduates, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) | Men 43% · Women 57% |
| First-generation students Share of students who are first-generation, by the College Scorecard’s definition | 18% |
| First-year students from another state Of first-time students whose home is a U.S. state, fall 2023 (IPEDS) | 76% |
| Total students | 3,146 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $28,786 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $87,070 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 91% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 84% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 86% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years Borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within 3 years (College Scorecard) | 86% |
| First-year retention | 93% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $85,139 |
| Admission rate | 14% |
| Application fee Undergraduate application fee, 2023–24 (IPEDS) | $60 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 13% |
| Average SAT | 1508 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 710–760 |
| SAT math | 720–780 |
| ACT composite | 33–34 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Very good · Top 25% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Economics | |
| Political science | |
| Romance languages | |
| International relations | |
| History | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| English | |
| Biology | |
| Education (general) |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Anthropology, Applied mathematics, Area studies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Classical and Ancient Studies, Classics, East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Ethnic and gender studies, Experimental psychology, Film and video, Fine arts, Geography, Geology and earth science, German, Liberal arts, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Music, Natural Sciences, Neuroscience, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Philosophy, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Physical Sciences, Physics, Psychology, Religious studies, Social sciences, Sociology, Sociology and Anthropology, Theatre.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Social sciences | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Natural resources |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Rural |
| Part-time undergraduates | 0% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 0% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $17,610 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Patriot League |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 9 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 93%Of instructional faculty, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) |
| Endowment per student | $384,141Endowment at the end of fiscal year 2023, per full-time-equivalent student (IPEDS) |
| Dorm space | For about 94% of studentsCampus beds divided by undergraduate enrollment. Not how many students live on campus (IPEDS) |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR)About 35 miles away in a straight line (OurAirports) |
| Town population | 4,3702020–2024 five-year estimate (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | NewarkAbout 161 miles away in a straight line (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Average temperature in January | 19°F1991–2020 normal, from MORRISVILLE 6 SW, NY US, about 10 miles away (NOAA) |
| Average temperature in July | 67°F1991–2020 normal, from MORRISVILLE 6 SW, NY US, about 10 miles away (NOAA) |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.31 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.93 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Colgate University’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A+). It ranks in the top 3% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Colgate University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $28,786 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Colgate University?
- Colgate University admitted 14% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Colgate University’s graduates do?
- 91% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $85,139; the median federal debt at graduation is $15,000.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 190099
- Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate college (arts & sciences)
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Colleges like this one
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