Colby College vs. MIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Colby College in Waterville, ME with Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Colby College based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 2,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colby College is located in Waterville, ME (Remote Town setting); Massachusetts Institute of Technology is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
• Colby College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby College 9:1; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1.

Colby College vs. MIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or MIT? 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 MIT ($16,219 vs. $20,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 11.8% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($17,890 vs. $20,280).
• Colby College is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $7,204 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $62,396.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Colby College than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $7,204 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $62,396.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Colby College (59% vs. 45%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 12.1% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students ($69,201 vs. $61,734).

Colby College vs. MIT Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 40 points higher than at Colby College (1510).
• Incoming MIT students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at Colby College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 1460/1550; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 32/34; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby College - Test optional; MIT - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Colby College Jan 1, 2027; MIT Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Colby College (3.86).
• Colby College has a higher acceptance rate (7.1%) than MIT (4.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.2% at Colby College vs. 85.8% at MIT.

Colby College vs. MIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Colby College's (91%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $68,700 more per year than Colby College graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $73,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $2,029 lower median loan debt than Colby College graduates ($17,316 vs. $19,345).
• Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colby College graduates ($179 vs. $200).
• More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby College students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.