Colgate University
About
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, United States. It was founded in 1819 as the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York and operated under that name until 1823, when it was renamed Hamilton Theological and Literary Institution, often called Hamilton College (1823–1846), then Madison College (1846–1890), and its present name since 1890.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell recipients here graduate at a 3.3-point higher rate than non-Pell students, unusual and worth a closer look.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 45 Title IV programs, 10 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 35 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing10 · 22.2%
- No Data35 · 77.8%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
New England Commission of Higher Education
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Programmatic accreditations · 2
Action history · 3
- Jun 2025Loss of Accreditation or Preaccreditation: Voluntary WithdrawalMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
- Jul 2023Voluntary Withdrawal ReceivedMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
- Jun 2018Renewal of AccreditationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 477 students received $2.9M in Pell grants, alongside $7.8M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 275 borrowers who entered repayment, 2 (0.7%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Colgate
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 13
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus6
Includes 6 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Sexual orientation1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Curtis Hall1 fireCookingDamage $0-$99
- University Court Apts1 fireSmoking materialsDamage $0-$99
- Newell Apts2 firesCookingDamage $100-$999
- Newell Apts2 firesCookingDamage $0-$99
- Parker Apts1 fireElectricalDamage $1,000-$9,999
- 104 Broad Street1 fireCooking1 injured · 0 deathsDamage $0-$99
- Burke Hall1 fireAn unknown person applied a post-it note with a burned edge to an interior wall of the building. It was unclear if the note was burned before or after it was placed. This entry was placed under "Open Flame".Damage $0-$99
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Colgate vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Colgate selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectColgate University | 91% | — | 3,211 | $28,786 | Baccalaureate |
| 94% | 9.0% | 1,914 | $23,367 | Baccalaureate | |
| 91% | 16.4% | 15,432 | $41,704 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 7.1% | 1,881 | $14,398 | Baccalaureate | |
| 96% | 5.4% | 11,956 | $25,184 | R1 Research | |
| 86% | 28.9% | 3,969 | $40,766 | Baccalaureate | |
| 89% | 7.1% | 2,412 | $17,180 | Baccalaureate | |
| 95% | 8.8% | 26,793 | $28,690 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 5.4% | 6,938 | $29,519 | R1 Research | |
| 91% | 13.4% | 1,869 | $17,379 | Baccalaureate | |
| 97% | 5.7% | 17,499 | $29,612 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 12.9% | 20,031 | $40,815 | R1 Research | |
| 91% | 13.6% | 2,031 | $28,985 | Baccalaureate | |
| 88% | 31.4% | 2,775 | $34,433 | Baccalaureate | |
| 88% | 25.9% | 7,692 | $36,931 | R2 Research | |
| 91% | 10.7% | 2,803 | $31,483 | Baccalaureate | |
| 98% | 4.6% | 9,137 | $6,128 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 11.3% | 13,042 | $26,780 | R1 Research | |
| 85% | 22.2% | 3,722 | $31,309 | Baccalaureate | |
| 89% | 21.7% | 9,322 | $28,719 | R2 Research | |
| 94% | 8.3% | 2,164 | $17,716 | Baccalaureate | |
| Peer group median | 91% | 11.0% | 3,969 | $28,786 |
Institutions like Colgate
Explore the federal data for institutions in Colgate's comparison group.
- BaccalaureateMassachusetts
Amherst College
Grad rate94%Admit rate9.0%Enrollment1,914Net price$23,367View data - R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Boston College
Grad rate91%Admit rate16.4%Enrollment15,432Net price$41,704View data - BaccalaureateMaine
Bowdoin College
Grad rate95%Admit rate7.1%Enrollment1,881Net price$14,398View data - R1 ResearchRhode Island
Brown University
Grad rate96%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment11,956Net price$25,184View data - BaccalaureatePennsylvania
Bucknell University
Grad rate86%Admit rate28.9%Enrollment3,969Net price$40,766View data - BaccalaureateMaine
Colby College
Grad rate89%Admit rate7.1%Enrollment2,412Net price$17,180View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Cornell University
Grad rate95%Admit rate8.8%Enrollment26,793Net price$28,690View data - R1 ResearchNew Hampshire
Dartmouth College
Grad rate96%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment6,938Net price$29,519View data - BaccalaureateNorth Carolina
Davidson College
Grad rate91%Admit rate13.4%Enrollment1,869Net price$17,379View data - R1 ResearchNorth Carolina
Duke University
Grad rate97%Admit rate5.7%Enrollment17,499Net price$29,612View data - R1 ResearchDistrict of Columbia
Georgetown University
Grad rate95%Admit rate12.9%Enrollment20,031Net price$40,815View data - BaccalaureateNew York
Hamilton College
Grad rate91%Admit rate13.6%Enrollment2,031Net price$28,985View data - BaccalaureatePennsylvania
Lafayette College
Grad rate88%Admit rate31.4%Enrollment2,775Net price$34,433View data - R2 ResearchPennsylvania
Lehigh University
Grad rate88%Admit rate25.9%Enrollment7,692Net price$36,931View data - BaccalaureateVermont
Middlebury College
Grad rate91%Admit rate10.7%Enrollment2,803Net price$31,483View data - R1 ResearchNew Jersey
Princeton University
Grad rate98%Admit rate4.6%Enrollment9,137Net price$6,128View data - R1 ResearchIndiana
University of Notre Dame
Grad rate95%Admit rate11.3%Enrollment13,042Net price$26,780View data - BaccalaureateVirginia
University of Richmond
Grad rate85%Admit rate22.2%Enrollment3,722Net price$31,309View data - R2 ResearchNorth Carolina
Wake Forest University
Grad rate89%Admit rate21.7%Enrollment9,322Net price$28,719View data - BaccalaureateMassachusetts
Williams College
Grad rate94%Admit rate8.3%Enrollment2,164Net price$17,716View data
Colgate Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Analysis (OIA) oversees the University's research and assessment activities in support of decision-making by University leaders. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Administration, the office also manages data governance and the routine reporting needs of University's leadership team and external entities.
Visit IR office page- Neil AlbertAssociate Provost for Institutional Analysis; University Registrar
- Karen ChealAssociate Director of Institutional Analysis
- Gwynne LimInstitutional Research Analyst
Common Data Set
Colgate's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Selectivity & Admissions
Admissions funnel
C120,682 applied → 2,871 admitted (13.9%) → 825 enrolled.
Selectivity
C1Highly selective — 13.9% acceptance rate.
Admit rate by gender
C1Admit rate varies by gender.
SAT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% SAT 1450–1530 (median 1490).
ACT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% ACT 33–34 (median 34).
High-school class rank
C10Share of enrolled first-years by HS class-rank band.
Waitlist outcome
C22,433 offered a waitlist spot, 1,338 accepted it, 48 admitted (3.6% of those who stayed on).
What matters in admission
C7Relative importance of each admission factor.
Affordability & Value
Cost of attendance
GTotal sticker cost of attendance is $94,810 (2025-2026).
Sticker vs. net price
G+HSticker $94,810 → about $32,389 net for aided students after the average need-based grant ($62,421); 100% of demonstrated need is met.
Where grant aid comes from
H194% of need-based grant dollars come from the institution itself.
Graduate debt
H4/H521% of graduates borrowed; those who did owed $30,184 on average.
Outcomes & Equity
Graduation & retention
B6-year graduation rate 91%; first-year retention 93%.
Equity: Pell graduation gap
B4Pell-grant recipients graduate 3 pts above the overall rate (94% vs 91%).
Academic Experience
Faculty profile
IKey faculty indicators.
Degrees by discipline
JSTEM-dominant: ~24% of bachelor's degrees are in computing, engineering, math & sciences.
Student Body & Diversity
Undergraduate race/ethnicity
B2Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity.
International students
B28% of undergraduates are international (nonresident).
Undergrad vs graduate
B13,193 undergraduates and 18 graduate students.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D1676 transfer applicants → 65 admitted (9.6%) → 19 enrolled — more selective than first-year admission.
Reports & documents (2)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planThe Third-Century Plan2026Colgate University, with its Third-Century Plan, aims to elevate its standing as a leading liberal arts institution by focusing on four key areas: enhancing student and faculty support, strengthening academics, enriching student life, and improving the campus environment. This ambitious long-term plan seeks to sustain excellence through strategic initiatives and a robust financial foundation. The success of the plan will require years of dedicated effort, resource mobilization, and continuous governance involvement.colgate.edu
Notable alumni of Colgate (29)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Charles AddamsThe arts
- Ralph ArlyckThe arts
- Ivy AustinThe arts
- Ken BakerThe arts
- Joe BerlingerThe arts
- Lin BrehmerThe arts
- Jay ChandrasekharThe arts
- Brent MaddockThe arts
- Johnny MarksThe arts
- Monica CrowleyJournalism
- John AcropolisBusiness
- Chase CareyBusiness
Frequently asked questions about Colgate University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Colgate.
What is the graduation rate at Colgate University?
How many students attend Colgate University?
What is the average net price at Colgate University?
What is the yield rate at Colgate University?
Where is Colgate University located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Colgate University?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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