Colgate vs. Brown

Deciding between Colgate University and Brown 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.

Colgate University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Colgate Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Colgate Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Colgate Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Colgate No
  • Brown No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Colgate No
  • Brown No

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; Brown University 6:1.

Colgate vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or Brown? 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 Brown University than Colgate ($26,256 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 0.9% lower than at Colgate University ($17,444 vs. $17,610).
  • Brown University is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Colgate (about $1,106 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $70,306.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Brown than at Colgate University (about $1,106 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $70,306.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Colgate University (52% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 5.2% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($61,392 vs. $58,334).

Colgate vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate or Brown? 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 Brown and Colgate.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 60 points higher than at Colgate (1490).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Colgate).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 1430/1540; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Colgate vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Colgate University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than Colgate graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $75,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $1,125 lower median loan debt than Colgate graduates ($15,000 vs. $16,125).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colgate graduates ($155 vs. $166).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)

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.