College Profiles/ Colgate University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Colgate University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Hamilton, NY · 3,193 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Colgate University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Colgate University admitted 13.9% of 20,682 first-year applicants in the 2024-2025 Common Data Set.[1] Early Decision applicants were admitted at 19.5%.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1450 to 1530.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $100,224.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $62,421.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, Early Decision II Jan 15, Regular Decision Jan 15.[3]
13.9%
Overall admit rate[1]
19.5%
Early Decision admit rate[1]
1450 to 1530
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$100,224
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$62,421
Average need-based grant[1]
Colgate University at a Glance
- Location
- Hamilton, NY
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 9:1[1]
- Endowment
- $1.3 billion (federal data)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional[3]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition (Scoir), QuestBridge[3]
- First-year retention
- 93.4%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on Colgate University
The ConnectPrep take
Colgate says it values academic achievement, curiosity and commitment, along with excitement for intellectual pursuits and empathy toward others. The average GPA is 3.85, so empathy is the quality worth showing on purpose. The admit rate is 13.9% on 20,682 applicants. Early Decision gives a modest lift: 19.5% of 2,447 ED applicants were admitted, about 1.4 times the overall rate, and early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacies. ED I closes Nov 1, and ED II and Regular Decision close Jan 15. Testing is optional with no disadvantage; with a middle 50% SAT of 1450 to 1530, we advise 1490 or higher and a goal of 1530. The mistake we see is an ED I family assuming aid can wait, when it is due Nov 1 with the application.
What to do this fall
- File financial aid by Nov 1 for ED I, the same day as the application.
- Submit an SAT of 1490 or higher, and retest toward 1530 if time allows.
- Send arts supplements through Colgate SlideRoom by the application deadline; late or emailed work is not accepted.
- Apply in October, when Colgate waives application fees, if your student is ready.
Applying to Colgate University? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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Colgate University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
20,682 |
2,871 |
13.9% |
| Early Decision[1] |
2,447 |
477 |
19.5% |
- Early Decision admits made up about 17% of all admitted students, so a large part of the class is filled before Regular Decision applications are read (ConnectPrep calculation from the figures above).
- The Early Decision admit rate is about 1.4 times the overall rate. Early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacy applicants, so the true advantage for a typical applicant is smaller.
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 28.7%.[1]
- 2,433 students were offered a waitlist spot, 1,338 accepted one, and 48 were admitted from it.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
710 to 760 |
| SAT Math[1] |
720 to 780 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1450 to 1530 |
| ACT composite[1] |
33 to 34 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
23% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
14% |
| Average high school GPA[1] |
3.85 |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1530 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 34 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1490, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Colgate University looks for
In its own words: Colgate says it values academic achievement, curiosity, and commitment, along with excitement for intellectual pursuits and empathy toward others.[6]
Colgate University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 1 |
mid-Dec (ED I); mid-Feb (ED II) |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 15 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Jan 15 |
late Mar |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Colgate University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
| Financial aid |
Nov 1 (ED I); Jan 15 (ED II, RD) |
ED I financial aid is due Nov 1, the same day as the application.[7] |
| Arts supplements (SlideRoom) |
same as application deadline |
Supplements go through Colgate SlideRoom and must arrive by the application deadline; late or emailed submissions are not accepted. The $12 fee is waived for Common App fee waiver recipients and all QuestBridge applicants.[7] |
| Alumni Memorial Scholars and OUS |
See note |
Alumni Memorial Scholars and Office of Undergraduate Studies eligibility are decided during first-year admission; no separate application.[8] |
See how Colgate University compares with other colleges in the Northeast deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Colgate University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$100,224 |
| Tuition[2] |
$76,828 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
31.2% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$62,421 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$69,907 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
100.0% |
First-year or sophomore living on campus, including billed charges of $96,646 and estimated non-billed costs of $3,578.[2]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $100,224 cost of attendance down to roughly $37,803 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- Colgate University states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[9]
- Under the Colgate Commitment, which applies to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, students with family income of $175,000 or less will generally attend tuition-free, and families with income up to $200,000 generally receive aid packages without loans.[9]
- International students: Colgate meets 100 percent of the demonstrated need of all admitted students, including international students.[9]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[4]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$6,086 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$2,678 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$13,617 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$21,831 |
| Over $110,000 |
$48,234 |
| All aided students |
$28,786 |
Academics and Majors at Colgate University
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Social sciences36%
- Biological/life sciences13%
- Psychology9%
- Computer and information sciences5%
- Natural resources and conservation5%
Signature programs
The Colgate Commitment
Students from families earning $175,000 or less generally attend tuition-free, and Colgate meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for all admitted students.[9]
Core Curriculum
A liberal arts core that includes First-Year Seminars and Living and Learning Workshops, Core Communities, Core Conversations (a course built on five shared texts), and Core Sciences.[10]
Faculty-led off-campus study
Colgate sponsors up to 20 semester-long programs each year, each led by Colgate faculty, and 59 percent of students take part in off-campus study.[11]
Choosing a major and getting in
Colgate students choose from 57 majors.[5]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision I and Early Decision II (both binding).[7]
- QuestBridge partner.[7]
- Optional arts submissions reviewed by Colgate faculty as part of the holistic review.[7]
Colgate University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
93.4% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
84.9% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
91.2% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[4] |
$85,139 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[4] |
$15,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[4] |
13% |
Make Colgate University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
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Colgate University FAQs
What is the Colgate University acceptance rate?
Colgate University admitted 13.9% of first-year applicants (2,871 of 20,682), according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set. The Early Decision admit rate was 19.5%.
When are the Colgate University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 1; Early Decision II Jan 15; Regular Decision Jan 15.
How much does Colgate University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $100,224. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $62,421. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for Colgate University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1450 to 1530 on the SAT and 33 to 34 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1530, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional.
Is it easier to get into Colgate early decision?
Somewhat. Colgate admitted 19.5% of its 2,447 Early Decision applicants against 13.9% overall, about 1.4 times the overall rate. Early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacies, so the true edge is smaller. ED I closes Nov 1 and ED II closes Jan 15, with aid due on those dates.
What is the Colgate Commitment?
Under the Colgate Commitment, which applies to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, students with family income of $175,000 or less will generally attend tuition free, and families with income up to $200,000 generally receive aid packages without loans. Colgate meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for all admitted students, including international students.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Colgate University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
