Colgate vs. NYU

Deciding between Colgate University 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.

Colgate University
New York University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY 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 Colgate based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Colgate vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate 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 Colgate University than NYU ($28,736 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 25.2% lower than at New York University ($17,610 vs. $23,530).
  • Colgate University is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $7,510 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12% higher at Colgate than at New York University (about $7,510 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colgate University than at New York University (43% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 8.2% larger than aid received by New York University students ($58,334 vs. $53,901).

Colgate vs. NYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 30 points higher than at Colgate (1490).
  • Incoming NYU 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; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NYU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Colgate vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate 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).

  • Colgate University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $700 more per year than Colgate graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $75,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $7,125 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($16,125 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($166 vs. $240).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.