Hamilton College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Clinton, New York · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
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Hamilton College is a private nonprofit university in Clinton, New York that admits about 14% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $28,985 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Economics, Biology, General and Political Science and Government, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 90% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 6.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Hamilton College is a private institution located in Clinton, New York and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Hamilton College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 14%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1480 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $28,985 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Hamilton College?
Most admitted students at Hamilton College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What does Hamilton College weight in admissions?
Hamilton College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores Hamilton College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 730–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 730. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1440 |
| 50th percentile | 1480 |
| 75th percentile | 1510 |
| % submitting SAT | 35% |
| 25th percentile | 33 |
| 50th percentile | 34 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 13% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 86.36% |
| Top 25% of class | 97.73% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 18.41% |
How much does Hamilton College actually cost?
Published tuition is $68,960 for in-state students and $68,960 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,510 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $28,985 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $75,210 |
| Room and board | $19,290 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $28,985 |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Hamilton College
| Regular deadline | 1/6 |
| Notification date | 1-Apr |
| Reply deadline | 1-May |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 6 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 28% |
Will my child graduate from Hamilton College?
These predict outcomes at Hamilton College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Hamilton College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Hamilton College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Biology, General and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Hamilton College confers roughly 324 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $108,312 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | 88 | $108,312 |
| Biology, General | 41 | — |
| Political Science and Government | 40 | $80,732 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 36 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 34 | $58,619 |
| Mathematics | 32 | $94,417 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 28 | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 25 | — |
Is Hamilton College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Hamilton College disclosed 14 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 12 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Hamilton College?
About 100% of undergraduates at Hamilton College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 11% of men join a fraternity and 14% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for Hamilton College
Common questions parents ask about Hamilton College
What GPA do I need for Hamilton College?
Most admitted students at Hamilton College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Hamilton College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 730–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 730. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35.
How much does Hamilton College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Hamilton College after grants and scholarships is $28,985 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $68,960. Budget against the net figure.
Is Hamilton College realistic for my child?
Hamilton College admits 14% of applicants, so 730–780 SAT Math is target range and below 730 is a reach. Then check the $28,985 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Hamilton College?
Hamilton College accepts about 14% of applicants out of roughly 8,904 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Hamilton College test-optional?
Yes. Hamilton College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Hamilton College?
About 90% of students at Hamilton College graduate within six years, and 82% finish in four years. 96% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Hamilton College?
Hamilton College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 28%, compared with its overall rate of 14%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Hamilton College look for in applicants?
Hamilton College rates course rigor, class rank and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Hamilton College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Hamilton College is a private nonprofit institution located in Clinton, New York.
What are the most popular majors at Hamilton College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Hamilton College by annual graduates are Economics, Biology, General and Political Science and Government. The school awards about 324 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Hamilton College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Hamilton College reported 14 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 6.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Hamilton College?
At Hamilton College, 100% of undergraduates live on campus, 11% of men are in fraternities, 14% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Hamilton College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers