Colgate vs. Hunter

Deciding between Colgate University and CUNY Hunter College? 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
CUNY Hunter College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY 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 Colgate based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Colgate vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate 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 Colgate ($4,431 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 32.8% lower than at Colgate University ($11,832 vs. $17,610).
  • Colgate University is 852.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $62,924 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 358.6% higher at Colgate than at CUNY Hunter College (about $54,974 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Colgate University (87% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 498% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($58,334 vs. $9,755).

Colgate vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 230 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 1430/1540; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Colgate vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate 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).

  • Colgate University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $26,500 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $4,577 lower median loan debt than Colgate graduates ($11,548 vs. $16,125).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colgate graduates ($119 vs. $166).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.