Colby College
Waterville, Maine · Private Nonprofit · 7.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 94/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Colby College scores 94 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. A 4.6-year payback period, $50,200 average 6-year earnings, and 88.8% completion rate anchor the score. Median debt of $19,157 is low against a sticker tuition of $69,600, reflecting the strength of Colby's aid program. Net price of $17,180 is the headline number, but the income-band figures tell the more important story: families earning under $48,000 pay $4,049 or less per year - in some brackets, less than $1,300. Economics leads by graduate volume and earnings: 94 graduates, $76,401 year-one, $103,491 year-four, B+ ROI grade. International Relations (66 graduates, $54,353 year-one, $96,621 year-four) is the second major by volume and shows strong four-year earnings growth, though a C+ debt-to-earnings grade reflects the lower near-term income relative to debt. Natural Resources Conservation (47 graduates) is the most common program by count and has the weakest returns: $28,216 year-one, $55,719 year-four, C grade. The broad program mix - from area studies to environmental work - reflects Colby's liberal arts DNA, and the aggregate outcome of $50,200 average 6-year earnings is solid for a school of this type.
The median graduate earns $80,490 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Colby College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $69,600/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $69,600/yr |
| Average net price | $17,180/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $68,720 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $80,490 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $50,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,157 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $203 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 88.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,407 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $69,600/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,180/year, or roughly $68,720 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $4,049/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $46,511/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,157, which works out to about $203 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($50,200) and comes to 0.38, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,049 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $1,251 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $3,666 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,106 |
| $110,001+ | $46,511 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $4,049 per year at Colby. The 30001-48000 bracket drops further to $1,251 per year. Four-year cost at those price points is roughly $5,000-$16,000 total. Against $50,200 average 6-year earnings and a 4.6-year payback, the financial case for low-income families with admitted students is exceptionally strong. The completion rate of 88.8% reduces the non-completion risk that undermines ROI at many access-oriented institutions.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $3,666 per year, essentially the same as the lowest bracket - an unusual flattening of the aid schedule at this income tier that makes Colby highly accessible for working-class and middle-income families. The 75001-110000 bracket rises to $12,106 - still modest against a $69,600 sticker. Middle-income families earning $75,000-$110,000 face roughly $48,000 in total four-year cost, which against $50,200 average 6-year earnings and the B+ repayment rate of 91.7% is a strong value proposition.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $46,511 per year - approximately $186,000 over four years. At a 4.6-year payback and $50,200 average 6-year earnings, the full-pay case is financially marginal for students entering lower-earning fields. For economics and international relations graduates moving into finance or consulting, the payback is more compelling. The Colby credential carries genuine optionality value in Northeast professional labor markets that the Scorecard data does not fully capture.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Colby College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $103,491 | B+ |
| International Relations | $96,621 | C+ |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $55,719 | C |
| International/Globalization Studies | $42,756 | - |
| Psychology | $40,842 | - |
| Biology | $43,597 | - |
| Area Studies | $64,207 | - |
| Romance Languages | $42,326 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Economics
Economics is Colby's largest and highest-earning program: 94 graduates, $76,401 year-one, $103,491 year-four, with median debt of $24,250 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.317 (ROI grade B+). Graduates move into consulting, investment banking, and finance at rates consistent with Colby's placement strength in New York financial markets. The four-year trajectory to $103,491 reflects career progression in professional services and corporate roles. The B+ grade at a $69,600 sticker reflects that aid brings the actual debt exposure well below sticker.
International Relations
International Relations (66 graduates) earns $54,353 at year one and $96,621 at year four - a strong four-year growth trajectory. The year-four figure of $96,621 suggests a meaningful share of graduates enter consulting, international business, or law following graduate school. Students targeting government, NGO, or international development careers should expect lower near-term earnings but strong long-run optionality.
Natural Resources Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation is Colby's highest-volume program at 47 graduates, and it carries the institution's weakest ROI grade: $28,216 year-one, $55,719 year-four, C grade, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.684 and median debt of $19,313. The year-one figure is low but the four-year growth to $55,719 is meaningful. Many graduates likely pursue graduate study in environmental science or policy, which depresses near-term earnings. The Colby aid model helps: at Colby's low net price for income-eligible students, the break-even calculus improves considerably versus what the headline debt figures suggest.
Biology
Biology (31 graduates) earns $43,597 at year one with no four-year figure reported. The year-one number likely undercounts true outcomes for a pre-med/graduate-track cohort, where most graduates are not yet fully employed in career roles. Colby's biology program feeds medical, dental, and graduate science programs. Prospective students should weigh the four-year graduate earnings trajectory in health professions rather than the year-one figure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 90.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 91.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 93.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Colby College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 7.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 740-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 720-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 32-34 |
| Enrollment | 2,407 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 14.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,207 |
At 7.1% admission rate, Colby is highly selective. The SAT 740-790 Math and 720-760 Reading ranges describe the middle 50% - a significant share of admitted students exceed those ceilings. ACT 32-34 is the parallel benchmark. Colby has been test-optional in some recent cycles, though scores in the published range signal the academic caliber of the pool. The small size (2,407 students) and residential depth are central to what the institution offers; applicants should demonstrate genuine interest in the liberal arts environment, not just the selectivity tier.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Colby's ROI of 94 is strong. The 88.8% completion rate is strong for a liberal arts school.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colby College (this school) | 94 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| Williams College | 96 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| Wellesley College | 94 | $25,496 | $84,803 |
| Swarthmore College | 92 | $23,149 | $80,257 |
| Bates College | 82 | $29,351 | $69,498 |
| College of the Atlantic | 25 | $25,184 | $40,264 |
Who Thrives Here
Colby admits 7.1% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 740-790 Math and 720-760 Reading; ACT 32-34. Enrollment is 2,407, and the small-college experience in rural Maine is a defining feature - students who thrive here tend to want close faculty relationships and a cohesive residential community. Pell grant rate is 14.3%. Colby's strongest financial case is for low- and moderate-income students, where aid brings net price below $4,000 per year. Students drawn to environmental science, area studies, and international fields cluster here; economics and international relations are the dominant career-track programs.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Colby College is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $68,720 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $80,490 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.6 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 88.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $19,157 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $50,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Colby College: Common Questions
Is Colby College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Colby College pays off. It scores 94/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $17,180 a year after aid ($68,720 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $80,490 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.6 years to earn back.
How much does Colby College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $17,180 a year, or roughly $68,720 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Colby College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $80,490 ten years after enrolling, roughly $38,690 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Colby College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.6 years for Colby College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Colby College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,157, against average earnings of $50,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Colby College?
The six-year graduation rate is 88.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.