Colgate University
Hamilton, New York · Private Nonprofit · 13.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 92/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Colgate University scores 92 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. With $70,306 sticker tuition and a net price of $28,786, Colgate's aid model is highly targeted - the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $2,678 per year. Average 6-year earnings of $54,300 and a 91.2% completion rate are strong. The 5.1-year payback period and median debt of $15,000 are excellent for a highly selective liberal arts college. Computer Science (62 graduates, $79,929 year-one, $161,980 year-four, ROI grade A) is the standout program. Economics (147 graduates, $77,274 year-one, $128,887 year-four, ROI grade A) leads by volume with strong outcomes. Repayment rate of 90.0% at three years confirms graduates are managing their debt well.
The median graduate earns $85,139 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Colgate University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $70,306/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $70,306/yr |
| Average net price | $28,786/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $115,144 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $85,139 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $54,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,180 |
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: $70,306/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,786/year, or roughly $115,144 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 $6,086/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $48,234/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,000, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($54,300) and comes to 0.28, 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 | $6,086 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,678 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,617 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,831 |
| $110,001+ | $48,234 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $6,086 per year and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $2,678. Four years at $2,678 totals $10,712. The 91.2% completion rate means almost all admitted students who enroll graduate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,617 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $21,831. Both are well below the institutional net price average. Four years at $13,617 totals $54,468 - less than a single year of Economics year-one earnings. For middle-income families in the top half of this bracket, the aid amount is still meaningful.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $48,234 per year, totaling approximately $192,936 over four years. At a 5.1-year payback and $54,300 average earnings, this is financially solid for most program tracks. CS graduates at $161,980 year-four recover the four-year cost in approximately 14 months of working at year-four earnings.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Colgate University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $128,887 | A |
| International Relations | $83,188 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $161,980 | A |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $41,883 | B |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $44,089 | B+ |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $77,199 | - |
| History | $75,784 | - |
| English Language and Literature | $60,702 | B+ |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $70,760 | B |
| Biology | $57,996 | 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.
Computer Science
Computer Science at Colgate has 62 graduates, $79,929 year-one earnings, $161,980 year-four earnings, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.200 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $16,000 against $79,929 year-one earnings is negligible. The four-year trajectory to $161,980 suggests Colgate CS graduates progress rapidly into senior technical or leadership roles. At a liberal arts college, this volume and trajectory imply strong placements into New York tech, financial technology, and quantitative finance.
Economics
Economics (147 graduates) earns $77,274 year-one and $128,887 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.226 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $17,500 at $77k year-one. Economics is Colgate's highest-volume program and feeds directly into Wall Street investment banking, consulting, and graduate economics programs.
International Relations
International Relations (76 graduates) earns $56,064 year-one and $83,188 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.290 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $16,250 at $56k year-one is a 0.29 ratio. Year-four earnings of $83k reflect policy, consulting, and finance career paths that Colgate international relations graduates pursue. The B+ grade accounts for the lower near-term earnings relative to STEM and economics tracks.
English Language and Literature
English Language and Literature (39 graduates) earns $48,008 year-one and $60,702 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.331 (ROI grade B+). A B+ for English is notably strong - reflecting the Colgate brand effect where even humanities graduates command a premium in law, media, publishing, and finance. Median debt of $15,875 at $48k year-one is a 0.33 ratio. For a humanities program at a selective liberal arts college, these are competitive outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 90.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Colgate University’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 | 13.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 720-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 710-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-34 |
| Enrollment | 3,180 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 12.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,098 |
At 13.9%, Colgate is highly selective. SAT is 720-780 Math and 710-760 Reading, and ACT is 33-34. Colgate's admissions process values leadership, academic excellence, and demonstrated intellectual curiosity. The financial aid model is aggressive at lower income bands - $2,678 net price for the $30,001-$48,000 bracket is extraordinary and should make Colgate a serious consideration for any admitted student in that income range.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Its CS four-year earnings are $161,980.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate University (this school) | 92 | $28,786 | $85,139 |
| Babson College | 96 | $40,514 | $123,938 |
| Wellesley College | 94 | $25,496 | $84,803 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Wesleyan University | 85 | $30,177 | $73,897 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
Who Thrives Here
Colgate admits 13.9% of applicants with SAT ranges of 720-780 Math and 710-760 Reading; ACT 33-34. It enrolls 3,180. The Pell grant rate of 12.5% is low, indicating an affluent student body with selective economic diversity. Colgate attracts students interested in economics, finance, environmental studies, and public policy. Students who value a residential liberal arts experience with strong alumni networks in New York financial services are the core fit.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Colgate University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $115,144 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $85,139 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 5.1 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 91.2% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $15,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $54,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Colgate University: Common Questions
Is Colgate University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Colgate University pays off. It scores 92/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $28,786 a year after aid ($115,144 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $85,139 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.1 years to earn back.
How much does Colgate University 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 $28,786 a year, or roughly $115,144 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 Colgate University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $85,139 ten years after enrolling, roughly $43,339 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 Colgate University?
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 5.1 years for Colgate University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Colgate University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,000, against average earnings of $54,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Colgate University?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.2%, 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.