Colby College vs. NYU

Deciding between Colby College and New York University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Colby College
New York University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colby College Waterville, ME
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Colby College Remote Town
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colby College 2,412
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Colby College Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colby College #39
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colby College -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Colby College Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colby College
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colby College $69,600
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colby College $69,600
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Colby College $17,890
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Colby College $16,219
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colby College $69,201
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colby College 45%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colby College 19,187
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Colby College 1,360
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colby College 7.1%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Colby College 46.2%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colby College 1510
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colby College 33
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colby College 3.86
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colby College A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colby College Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colby College Extreme
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Colby College 32/34
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Colby College 1460/1550
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colby College Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colby College Jan 1, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colby College 9:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colby College
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colby College 91%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colby College $73,400
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colby College 88%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colby College $19,345
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colby College $200
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colby College 49%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Colby College 51%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colby College Medium
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colby College No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Colby College 62%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Colby College 6%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Colby College 3%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colby College 6%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Colby College 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colby College 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colby College 5%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Colby College 11%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colby College 7%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colby College 8%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colby College 76%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Colby College Yes
  • NYU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Colby College No
  • NYU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Colby College Yes
  • NYU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Colby College No
  • NYU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Colby College No
  • NYU No

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Colby College based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 2,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colby College is located in Waterville, ME (Remote Town setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Colby College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby College 9:1; New York University 8:1.

Colby College vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or NYU? 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 NYU ($16,219 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 24% lower than at New York University ($17,890 vs. $23,530).
  • Colby College is 10.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $6,804 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at Colby College than at New York University (about $6,804 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colby College than at New York University (45% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 28.4% larger than aid received by New York University students ($69,201 vs. $53,901).

Colby College vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 10 points higher than at Colby College (1510).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Colby College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 1460/1550; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 32/34; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby College - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colby College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Colby College (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.2% at Colby College vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Colby College vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colby College and NYU? 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Colby College graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $73,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colby College graduates have a $3,905 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($19,345 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Colby College graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($200 vs. $240).
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 77%)

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.