Colby College vs. Barnard

Comparable Facts

Compare Colby College in Waterville, ME with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than Colby College based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 2,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colby College is located in Waterville, ME (Remote Town setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Colby College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby College 9:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Colby College vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Barnard? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Barnard ($16,219 vs. $26,407).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 17.6% lower than at Barnard College ($17,890 vs. $21,714).
• Barnard College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Colby College (about $288 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $69,600.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Barnard than at Colby College (about $288 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $69,600.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colby College than at Barnard College (45% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($69,201 vs. $63,131).

Colby College vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or Barnard? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Barnard and Colby College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 10 points higher than at Colby College (1510).
• Incoming Colby College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at Barnard (33).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 1460/1550; Barnard College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 32/34; Barnard College 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby College - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Colby College Jan 1, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Barnard (3.85).
• Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Colby College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.2% at Colby College vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Colby College vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colby College and Barnard? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Colby College's (91%).
• Graduates from Colby College earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,400 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $1,498 lower median loan debt than Colby College graduates ($17,847 vs. $19,345).
• Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colby College graduates ($184 vs. $200).
• More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.