Hamilton College: the complete school report for parents

What does Hamilton College actually weigh in admissions?

Hamilton College rates 3 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, class rank. It does not consider 1 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Hamilton College's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What is the Hamilton College waitlist really like?

Hamilton College offered a place on its waiting list to 2,032 applicants and 1,226 accepted one. 49 were ultimately admitted. That is 4.0% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Hamilton College admitted 18.7% of 225 transfer applicants, against 13.6% 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: 28.1% of ED applicants were admitted against 13.6% overall, a gap of 15 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What will Hamilton College actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $28,985 a year at Hamilton College after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $75,210. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average.

40% of Hamilton College graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $17,971 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $180 a month in repayment. Hamilton College’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Hamilton College pay off?

Graduates earn a median $78,411 ten years after entering, and $60,082 at six years. 95% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 90% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$108,312 to $58,619, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Hamilton College:

College Scorecard, by field of study.

Will my child actually graduate?

96% of first-years return for a second year. 90% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 86.3% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 90.7% of everyone else, a gap of 4.4 points.

How big are the classes?

72% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1, and 76% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at Hamilton College like?

1,980 undergraduates, 70% of first-years from out of state. 100% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 100% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 11% of men join a fraternity and 14% of women a sorority. 13% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $78,373.

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.
• Early Decision is worth 15 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 49 of 1,226 who waited were admitted, about 4%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $108,312 five years out against $58,619 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 Hamilton College

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