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Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury RIT Tufts Vassar St Lawrence University BC Bowdoin College Bates RPI Syracuse| Colby College | Clarkson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Colby College | Clarkson | ||
| Location | Waterville, ME | Potsdam, NY | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 2,284 | 3,603 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #37 | #183 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colby.edu | clarkson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Colby College | Clarkson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,790 | $56,642 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,790 | $56,642 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,120 | $17,016 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,163 | $33,192 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $66,387 | $43,097 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 100% |
Admission |
Colby College | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 7,347 | ||
| Admitted | 1,215 | 5,669 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 6.8% | 77.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 49.8% | 10.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | |||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1440/1550 | 1198/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Colby College | Clarkson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Colby College | Clarkson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 72% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $73,400 | $70,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,345 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $200 | $279 |
Diversity |
Colby College | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 17% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 84% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 2% |
Students |
Colby College | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 7% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 79% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Colby College | Clarkson | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Clarkson University is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 2,284 students)
Colby College vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Clarkson?
- Colby College is 12.6% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($63,790.00 vs. $56,642.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.6% higher at Colby College than Clarkson University ($63,790.00 vs. $56,642.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Clarkson ($15,163 vs. $33,192)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 0.6% lower than costs at Colby College ($17,016 vs. $17,120)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Colby College (100% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 54% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($66,387 vs. $43,097)
Colby College vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or Clarkson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clarkson or Colby College .
- The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 165 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
- Incoming Colby College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Clarkson (27)
- Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Clarkson (3.8)
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Colby College (6.8%)
Colby College vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Colby College or Clarkson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Clarkson and Colby College.
- The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Clarkson University (91% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Colby College earn on average $2,600 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $70,800)
- Colby College students graduate with a $7,655 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($19,345 vs. $27,000)
- Colby College graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($200 vs. $279)
- More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 86%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/