Colby College vs. Hunter

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Colby College based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 2,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colby College is located in Waterville, ME (Remote Town setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Colby College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby College 9:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

Colby College vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than Colby College ($4,431 vs. $16,219).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 33.9% lower than at Colby College ($11,832 vs. $17,890).
• Colby College is 842.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $62,218 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 354% higher at Colby College than at CUNY Hunter College (about $54,268 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Colby College (87% vs. 45%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 609.4% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($69,201 vs. $9,755).

Colby College vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or Hunter? 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 Hunter and Colby College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colby College (1510) is 250 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 1460/1550; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby College - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Colby College Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Hunter (3.7).
• Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Colby College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.2% at Colby College vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Colby College vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colby College and Hunter? 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).

• Colby College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from Colby College earn a median of about $24,600 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,400 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $7,797 lower median loan debt than Colby College graduates ($11,548 vs. $19,345).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colby College graduates ($119 vs. $200).
• More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 56%)

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.