Colby College vs. Rhodes College

Should I go to Colby College or Rhodes College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College or Rhodes College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colby College vs. Rhodes College comparison
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Colby College Rhodes College
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Overview

Colby College Rhodes College
Location Waterville, ME Memphis, TN
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 2,284 1,952
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #37 #136
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu rhodes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Rhodes College
Tuition (In State) $63,790 $54,082
Tuition (Out of State) $63,790 $54,082
Room & Board $17,120 $12,910
Avg Net Price $15,163 $30,590
Avg Grant Aid $66,387 $37,543
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 100%

Admission

Colby College Rhodes College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 6,025
Admitted 1,215 2,993
Acceptance Rate 6.8% 49.7%
Enrolled % 49.8% 16.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.99
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 32/34 28/33
SAT Range 1440/1550 1290/1490
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 Rhodes College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

Colby College Rhodes College
Graduation Rate 91% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $59,400
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $26,217
Median Loan Payment $200 $271

Diversity

Colby College Rhodes College
% Men 0% 0%
% Women 0% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 74%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 11% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

Colby College Rhodes College
% In-State 7% 36%
% Out-of-State 79% 59%

Campus

Colby College Rhodes College
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

  • Colby College is larger than than Rhodes College based on total student enrollment (2,284 students vs. 1,952 students)

Colby College vs. Rhodes College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Rhodes College?

  • Colby College is 18% more expensive to attend than Rhodes College for in-state tuition ($63,790.00 vs. $54,082.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18% higher at Colby College than Rhodes College ($63,790.00 vs. $54,082.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Rhodes College ($15,163 vs. $30,590)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhodes College are 32.6% lower than costs at Colby College ($12,910 vs. $17,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rhodes College than Colby College (100% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 76.8% larger than aid received Rhodes College ($66,387 vs. $37,543)

Colby College vs. Rhodes College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or Rhodes College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Rhodes College or Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 57 points higher than at Rhodes College (1306)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Rhodes College (30)
  • Accepted freshman Rhodes College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Colby College (3.86)
  • Rhodes College has a higher acceptance rate (49.7%) than Colby College (6.8%)

Colby College vs. Rhodes College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or Rhodes College? 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 Rhodes College and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Rhodes College (91% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $14,000 more per year than Rhodes College graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $59,400)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $6,872 lower median federal student loan debt than Rhodes College graduates. ($19,345 vs. $26,217)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $71 less per month on federal student loans than Rhodes College graduates. ($200 vs. $271)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rhodes College students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/