CollegeValueRanked
Colgate University logo

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY
privateWebsite
67
Value
#42
Quality Rank
Score: 85.8/100
67
Value Score
out of 100
Median Earnings (10yr)
$85,139
+58% vs average
Net Price / Year
$28,786
+41% vs average
Graduation Rate
91%
Payback Period
1.4 years
Median Debt
$15,000
Student Body
3,180

Colgate University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)

Source: U.S. Dept of Education (College Scorecard)CollegeValueRanked
Admission Rate
14%

Colgate University at a Glance

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.

Founded

1819

207 years old

Endowment

$1.3B

$1.345 billion (2025)

Students

3,143

3,219 undergrad · 11 grad

Faculty

355

Selectivity

253.4%

5,145 of 2,030 admitted

Campus

575 acres

Identity

Motto: Deo ac Veritati ( Latin )Athletics: RaidersMascot: RaiderColors: Maroon & whiteAffiliation: Space-grantPresident: Brian W. Casey
Sources:Wikipedia www.colgate.edu facts

How to Apply to Colgate University

Official admissions page
Test-optionalCommon App memberInterview: Not offered
Regular deadline

November 1

Early deadline

November 1 (Early Decision I)

Application fee

$60

Fee waiver available

Testing policy

In alignment with Colgate's test-optional policy, the ACT (including the writing and science sections) is optional.

Interview

Glimpse While Colgate does not offer interviews as part of its application process, we do want to allow applicants to share more information about themselves.

Fee waiver

Colgate offers CSS Profile fee waiver codes to international applicants for whom submitting the CSS Profile will be a significant financial burden.
Requirements can change between admissions cycles. Always verify current requirements on the official admissions page before applying.

Is Colgate University Worth It?

Colgate University delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $28,786/year, it's priced 41% above average, while graduates go on to earn $85,139 — 58% above the national average.

The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.

With a 91% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.

Admission is competitive with a 14% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.

Median student debt of $15,000 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.

How Colgate University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in NY

Ranked #14 of 26 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.

RankCollegeValueNet price / yrMedian earnings
#1Bowdoin College100$14,398$82,735
#2Colby College100$17,180$80,490
#3Williams College100$17,716$88,665
#4Davidson College100$17,379$81,400
#5Rice University100$13,370$89,718
#6Pomona College94$19,285$77,779
#14Colgate University67$28,786$85,139

Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Colgate University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in NY.

Best Programs at Colgate University

The highest-earning program at Colgate University is Economics at $66,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Neurobiology and Neurosciences at $31,600/year.

Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from Colgate University earns $66,400, while a Neurobiology and Neurosciences graduate earns $31,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.

Debt also varies by program: Economics graduates carry $17,187 in median debt vs. $17,125 for Neurobiology and Neurosciences.

Return on Investment

Estimated 4-Year Cost

$115,144

Based on $28,786/yr net price × 4 years

Earnings Premium

+58%

vs. national average of $53,787/yr

Payback Period

1.4 years

Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings

10-Year Net Gain

$736,246

Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance

Programs & Earnings by Major

Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):

MajorEarnings (4yr)Earnings (1yr)Median Debt
Economics$66,400$66,400$17,187
Political Science and Government$53,200$53,200$16,673
International Relations and National Security Studies$50,900$50,900$16,274
Psychology, General$43,100$43,100$16,125
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$38,400$38,400$17,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$38,300$38,300N/A
English Language and Literature, General$35,900$35,900$17,125
History$32,600$32,600$17,002
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$31,600$31,600$17,125

Similar Colleges in NY

Columbia University in the City of New York
$102,491 earnings · $21,590/yr net price
100
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
$83,847 earnings · $13,269/yr net price
100
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
$75,971 earnings · $3,033/yr net price
100
CUNY Brooklyn College
$60,752 earnings · $3,103/yr net price
100
CUNY City College
$66,039 earnings · $3,776/yr net price
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View all colleges in NY →

Quick Facts

Institution Type
private
Location
Hamilton, NY
Student Body
3,180 students
Admission Rate
14%
Graduation Rate
91%
Net Price (Annual)
$28,786
Median Earnings (10yr)
$85,139
Median Student Debt
$15,000

Explore More

Earnings & cost trends →All colleges in NY →Compare colleges →Our methodology →Best public colleges →
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median earnings are measured 10 years after enrollment. Net price reflects average cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal financial aid. Value scores are calculated using our methodology.