Colgate: the complete school report for parents
Colgate puts the most weight on course rigor, GPA and class rank. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 17.5% admit rate and 69% of enrolled students at a 3.75 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Applying Early Decision changes the odds sharply here: 35.5% of ED applicants were admitted against 17.5% overall.
Colgate is officially Colgate University. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
Is Colgate a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Colgate against the figures above. No account needed.
What does Colgate actually weigh in admissions?
Colgate rates 3 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, class rank. It does not consider 4 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Colgate's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How Colgate rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Important |
| the essay | Important |
| extracurricular activities | Important |
| recommendations | Important |
| personal qualities | Important |
| talent | Important |
| class rank | Very Important |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does Colgate consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does Colgate consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Colgate consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Colgate consider the application essay?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Colgate consider extracurricular activities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Colgate consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Colgate consider character and personal qualities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Colgate consider a special talent or ability?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Colgate consider class rank?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Colgate consider demonstrated interest?
No. Colgate does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does Colgate consider an interview?
No. Colgate does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does Colgate consider legacy status?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. It can act as a tiebreaker but will not carry a weak application.
Does Colgate consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does Colgate consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Colgate consider state residency?
No. Colgate does not consider it.
Does Colgate consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Colgate consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Colgate consider religious affiliation?
No. Colgate does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
69% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 3.85 on a 4 scale, reported for 100% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 31% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 38% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 23% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 7% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 1% |
| 2.50–2.99 | Not reported |
| 2.00–2.49 | Not reported |
What is the Colgate waitlist really like?
Colgate offered a place on its waiting list to 2,381 applicants and 1,281 accepted one. 23 were ultimately admitted. That is 1.8% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
Colgate admitted 13.7% of 423 transfer applicants, against 17.5% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 35.5% of ED applicants were admitted against 17.5% overall, a gap of 18 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.
| Regular application deadline | January 15 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | April 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | Yes |
| Early Decision deadline | November 1 |
| Early Decision II offered | Yes |
| Early Decision II deadline | January 15 |
| Early Action offered | No |
| Application fee | $60 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
Colgate requires 16 academic units and recommends 20. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | 4 years |
| Mathematics | 3 years | 4 years |
| Science | 3 years | 4 years |
| of which lab science | 2 years | Not stated |
| Foreign language | 3 years | 4 years |
What will Colgate actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $28,786 a year at Colgate after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $73,206. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average.
21% of Colgate graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $21,643 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $159 a month in repayment. Colgate’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from Colgate pay off?
Graduates earn a median $85,139 ten years after entering, and $64,949 at six years. 88% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 86% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
$130,139 to $49,697, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Colgate:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $130,139 | 143 |
| Political Science and Government | $95,708 | 87 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $86,420 | 47 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $79,583 | 26 |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | $79,025 | 19 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $78,918 | 37 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $60,334 | 36 |
| History | $56,891 | 31 |
| Biology, General | $55,827 | 31 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $49,697 | 33 |
College Scorecard, by field of study.
Will my child actually graduate?
92% of first-years return for a second year. 83% graduate within four years and 89% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 91.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 88.6% of everyone else, a gap of -2.4 points.
How big are the classes?
The student-faculty ratio is 9:1, and 93% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education.
What is life at Colgate like?
3,065 undergraduates, 75% of first-years from out of state. 100% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 91% across all undergraduates. 18% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $81,701.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Colgate recommends 20 academic units.
- 69% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 3.85. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- Early Decision is worth 18 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 23 of 1,281 who waited were admitted, about 2%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $130,139 five years out against $49,697 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about Colgate
What GPA do you need for Colgate?
69% of enrolled students at Colgate had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.85, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Does the Colgate waitlist move?
1,281 students accepted a place on the Colgate waiting list and 23 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do Colgate graduates earn?
Colgate graduates earn a median $85,139 ten years after entering, and 88% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with Colgate
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: Colgate’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.