Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Hamilton College TCU Baylor Lehigh Vassar Villanova UT Austin Cornell BC Colby College UT Dallas Middlebury| Colgate University | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Colgate | SMU | ||
| Location | Hamilton, NY | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,146 | 11,842 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #27 | #71 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colgate.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Colgate | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $66,622 | $57,212 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $66,622 | $57,212 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,790 | $18,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,954 | $45,792 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $56,696 | $36,850 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 43% | 69% |
Admission |
Colgate | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 21,130 | 15,092 | ||
| Admitted | 2,526 | 9,240 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12% | 61.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 31.9% | 17.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.77 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 33/34 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1430/1530 | 1320/1480 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Colgate | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Colgate | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 92% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $75,300 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $16,125 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $166 | $222 |
Diversity |
Colgate | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 21% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 9% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
Colgate | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 55% | ||
Campus |
Colgate | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than Colgate based on total student enrollment (11,842 students vs. 3,146 students)
Colgate vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Colgate or SMU?
- Colgate University is 16.4% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $57,212.00)
- Out of state tuition is 16.4% higher at Colgate than Southern Methodist University ($66,622.00 vs. $57,212.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than SMU ($26,954 vs. $45,792)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 8.6% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($16,790 vs. $18,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Colgate University (69% vs. 43%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 53.9% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($56,696 vs. $36,850)
Colgate vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Colgate or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Colgate .
- The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 44 points higher than at SMU (1330)
- Incoming Colgate students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at SMU (30)
- Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (61.2%) than Colgate (12%)
Colgate vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Colgate or SMU? 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 SMU and Colgate.
- The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Southern Methodist University (92% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Colgate University earn on average $2,300 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($75,300 vs. $73,000)
- Colgate University students graduate with a $5,375 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($16,125 vs. $21,500)
- Colgate graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($166 vs. $222)
- More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/