Hamilton, NY · Private · 3,180 undergraduates · rural
Colgate University
Highly selective
Colgate binds first-year academics to residential life by using seminar placement to build multi-year Residential Commons affiliations.
Institutional profile
Top tier Exceptional in academic standing, and exceptional in career outcomes.- Admission
- 12% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 91%
21,130 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$85,139 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets Colgate apart
Academic design
The Core Curriculum creates shared foundational coursework.
Campus pattern
Students live in one of four Residential Commons during their first two years and retain the affiliation throughout college.
A signature opportunity
Residential Commons
Can I get in?
12% admitted
The strongest case shows why this structure fits a student who wants shared academic foundations and a four-year residential identity rather than self-selected dorm assignments.
Recent applicant pool
21,130About 12 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 21% submitted an SAT, and 18% submitted an ACT. The ACT range comes from a small share of admitted students and does not describe the full class.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for Colgate, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What Colgate weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
The Core Curriculum creates shared foundational coursework.
Make institutional fit specific
A student who wants shared academic foundations and a four-year residential identity rather than self-selected dorm assignments.
Use the application route carefully
Keep the academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
Give commitments a clear through-line
Activities and recommendations should show sustained contribution, not a collection of disconnected credentials.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Use the application to show a clear academic direction and a specific reason this institutional structure fits.
Fee waiver: accepted
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at Colgate
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read the outcomes panel as a whole: completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together matter more than one headline number.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Economics
Political Science and Government
Computer Science
Research and Experimental Psychology
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
What is campus life like?
Colgate beyond the classroom
Students live in one of four Residential Commons during their first two years and retain the affiliation throughout college. Commons traditions include faculty events, trips, service activities, and the Commons Cup.
The academic structure
The Core Curriculum creates shared foundational coursework.
How the community is organized
Students live in one of four Residential Commons during their first two years and retain the affiliation throughout college.
Daily campus life
Commons traditions include faculty events, trips, service activities, and the Commons Cup.
What shapes an ordinary week
Students live in one of four Residential Commons during their first two years and retain the affiliation throughout college. Commons traditions include faculty events, trips, service activities, and the Commons Cup.
Use the campus beyond class
A student who wants shared academic foundations and a four-year residential identity rather than self-selected dorm assignments.
Fit the community in practice
The strongly residential model places less emphasis on living away from campus.