Skidmore College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Saratoga Springs, New York · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
  • Early Decision
  • Early Decision II
12,251
Applicants
2,907
Admitted24%
691
Enrolled
24%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Highly selective24% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1400
Mid 50: 1360–1460
In-state tuition
$69,210
per year, before aid (CDS 2025-2026)
Net price (avg)
$32,297
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #41 (tie) in National Liberal Arts CollegesU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Skidmore College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.

Is Skidmore College a reach, target or safety for your student?

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Quick answer

Skidmore College is a private nonprofit university in Saratoga Springs, New York that admits about 24% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $32,297 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business/Commerce, General, Psychology, General and Political Science and Government, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 82% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Skidmore College is a private institution located in Saratoga Springs, New York and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Skidmore College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 24%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1400 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $32,297 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Skidmore College?

63% of enrolled students at Skidmore College had a high school GPA of 3.00 or above, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
3.00–3.24
63.0%
2.50–2.99
29.0%
Below 2.50
8.0%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Skidmore College.

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What does Skidmore College weight in admissions?

Skidmore College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Very Important

3
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Character/personal qualities

Important

7
  • Class rank
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience

Considered

4
  • Standardized test scores
  • First generation status
  • Geographical residence
  • Level of applicant's interest

Not Considered

4
  • Interview
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

How Skidmore College reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores Skidmore College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1360
50th percentile1400
75th percentile1460
% submitting SAT25%
ACT Composite
25th percentile31
50th percentile33
75th percentile34
% submitting ACT8%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Test optional since 2016.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Skidmore College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

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 class45%
Top 25% of class70%
Top 50% of class97%
% submitting class rank17%

How much does Skidmore College actually cost?

Published tuition is $67,290 for in-state students and $67,290 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,940 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $32,297 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 13% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$69,210
Room and board$18,820
Average net price (after aid)$32,297
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need100%
Average need-based grant$58,100
Average merit award, no financial need4 first-year students received one$20,000
Graduates who borrowed44%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$29,458
Financial aid formsFAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$0 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Skidmore College

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/8
Notification date4/1
Reply deadline5/1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 1
Offers Early Decision IIYes
ED II deadlineJanuary 8
ED acceptance rate (all rounds)42%

Will my child graduate from Skidmore College?

These predict outcomes at Skidmore College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
94.1%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
74.49%
finished on time
6-year graduation
81.9%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Skidmore College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Skidmore College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business/Commerce, General, Psychology, General and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Skidmore College confers roughly 368 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business/Commerce, General program report a median income of about $74,487 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Business/Commerce, General87$74,487
Psychology, General78$64,061
Political Science and Government42$53,623
Fine and Studio Arts42$61,804
English Language and Literature, General33$52,273
Natural Resources Conservation and Research31$41,054
Biology, General29n/a
Economics26$96,378
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Skidmore College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Skidmore College disclosed 9 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 4 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
9
3.3 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
0
0.00 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
4
1.48 per 1,000
Burglary
4
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 2,694 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Skidmore College?

About 83% of undergraduates at Skidmore College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
83%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
76%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
In fraternities
0%
of men
In sororities
0%
of women
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Skidmore College.

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Common questions parents ask about Skidmore College

What GPA do I need for Skidmore College?

63% of enrolled students at Skidmore College had a high school GPA of 3.00 or above, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does Skidmore College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–33.

How much does Skidmore College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Skidmore College after grants and scholarships is $32,297 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $67,290. Budget against the net figure.

Is Skidmore College realistic for my child?

Skidmore College admits 24% of applicants, so 660–730 SAT Math is target range and below 660 is a reach. Then check the $32,297 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Skidmore College?

Skidmore College accepts about 24% of applicants out of roughly 12,251 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.

Is Skidmore College test-optional?

Yes. Skidmore College is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, 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 Skidmore College?

About 82% of students at Skidmore College graduate within six years, and 74% finish in four years. 94% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Skidmore College?

Skidmore College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 42%, compared with its overall rate of 24%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.

What does Skidmore College look for in applicants?

Skidmore College rates course rigor, GPA and character and personal qualities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Skidmore College a public or private school, and where is it located?

Skidmore College is a private nonprofit institution located in Saratoga Springs, New York.

What are the most popular majors at Skidmore College?

The largest undergraduate majors at Skidmore College by annual graduates are Business/Commerce, General, Psychology, General and Political Science and Government. The school awards about 368 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Skidmore College safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Skidmore College reported 9 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.3 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 Skidmore College?

At Skidmore College, 83% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Skidmore College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers