Colgate University: the complete school report for parents

What does Colgate University actually weigh in admissions?

Colgate University 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 University's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

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.

What is the Colgate University waitlist really like?

Colgate University 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 University 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.

What does my child need to take in high school?

Colgate University requires 16 academic units and recommends 20. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.

What will Colgate University actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $28,786 a year at Colgate University 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 University graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $21,643 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $159 a month in repayment. Colgate University’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Colgate University 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 University:

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 University 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 University 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 University

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