Colgate vs. Stanford

Deciding between Colgate University and Stanford 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
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Colgate vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or Stanford? 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 Stanford University than Colgate ($25,078 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 17.4% lower than at Stanford University ($17,610 vs. $21,315).
  • Colgate University is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $4,396 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Colgate than at Stanford University (about $4,396 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Colgate University (61% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($62,755 vs. $58,334).

Colgate vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 60 points higher than at Colgate (1490).
  • Incoming Stanford 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; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Colgate vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Colgate University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $47,600 more per year than Colgate graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $75,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $3,650 lower median loan debt than Colgate graduates ($12,475 vs. $16,125).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colgate graduates ($128 vs. $166).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.