Colby College

Waterville, ME · Private · Town (remote)

Private institution in Waterville, ME · 2,282 undergraduates · 7% acceptance rate · $80,490 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 1%Acceptance rate
Top 4%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 4%Average SAT
Top 4%Median ACT

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $23,9391,423rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $66,6002,025th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $66,6002,025th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $81,5501,933rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $19,157565th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $80,490137th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $60,052252nd highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 90.2%82nd highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 90.6%225th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 6.8%18th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 150039th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 3334th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 2,282866th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 9.0:1304th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 13.2%2,001st highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 166 mi (BOS)

On 5 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

EDNov 15
ED IIJan 10
RDJan 10

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 40 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
EconomicsSocial Sciences	bachelors	$59,688	$57,995
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$52,107	$38,289
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences	bachelors	$45,864	$47,118
International/Global StudiesMultidisciplinary Studies	bachelors	$45,696	$42,682
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsForeign Languages	bachelors	$42,682	—
History	bachelors	$35,060	—
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$31,305	$30,771
AnthropologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$29,685	$44,971
Area StudiesArea & Ethnic Studies	bachelors	—	$33,993
Astronomy and AstrophysicsPhysical Sciences	bachelors	—	—
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyBiological Sciences	bachelors	—	—
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical SciencesBiological Sciences	bachelors	—	—

Campus facts

Founded in 1813source
Athletic nickname: "Mules"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Blue and Graysource
Mascot: Morty the Mulesource
Motto: "Lux Mentis Scientia"source
Campus size: about 714 acressource
Formerly known as "Maine Literary and Theological Institution" (1813–1821)source
Formerly known as "Waterville College" (1821–1867)source
Formerly known as "Colby University" (1867–1899)source
Athletic conference: NESCACsource
Notable alum: Annie Proulxsource
Notable alum: Margaret Chase Smithsource
Notable alum: Mira Muratisource
Notable alum: Benjamin Franklin Butlersource
Notable alum: Robert B. Parkersource

Athletics — 18 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.