Hamilton, NY
Colgate University traces its founding to 1817, when 13 men met in Hamilton, New York, to establish the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York, chartered by the state in 1819 -- an origin the university still marks each year on Charter Day. The school was renamed several times (Hamilton Theological and Literary Institution, then Madison College) before taking its present name in 1890. Colgate describes itself today as combining "the best of a research university and a liberal arts college in one," with an 8-to-1 student-faculty ratio and 57 undergraduate majors.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Colgate University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 23% submitted SAT scores, 16% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision I: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Decision II: Jan 15, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan 15, 2027
Confirm on Colgate University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Colgate University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Colgate University weighs your application
From Colgate University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
What applicants who posted their results listed
24 self-reported applicant profiles from public posts, 2024–25 and 2025–26 admissions cycles: 10 admitted, 14 rejected or waitlisted. Figures read admitted vs. rejected or waitlisted.
Most common activities
Most common awards among admits
Who posted
How this compares across selective liberal arts colleges: Liberal Arts College Accepted vs. Rejected Applicants →
These are people who chose to post their results publicly, mostly on Reddit -- a group that skews toward high scores and STEM. They describe posters, not Colgate University's admitted class, and recruited athletes are left out. For official numbers, use the admissions figures above.
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Colgate University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Colgate University look for in applicants?
Per Colgate University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Colgate University's acceptance rate?
Colgate University in Hamilton, NY admits approximately 14% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Colgate University?
Per Colgate University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1450–1510 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Colgate University?
Per Colgate University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 33–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Colgate University cost?
Colgate University's total cost of attendance is reported at $87,070 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Colgate University?
Colgate University's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 15, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 15, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Colgate University require students to live on campus?
Yes -- Colgate University requires students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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