Colgate vs. SUNY Cortland

Should I go to Colgate University or SUNY College at Cortland? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colgate or SUNY Cortland is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colgate University vs. SUNY College at Cortland comparison
Colgate University SUNY College at Cortland College 3 College 4
Colgate University SUNY College at Cortland
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Overview

Colgate SUNY Cortland
Location Hamilton, NY Cortland, NY
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,146 6,780
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #27 #396
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu cortland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colgate SUNY Cortland
Tuition (In State) $66,622 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $66,622 $16,980
Room & Board $16,790 $15,210
Avg Net Price $26,954 $18,474
Avg Grant Aid $56,696 $8,034
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 71%

Admission

Colgate SUNY Cortland
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,130 15,867
Admitted 2,526 8,046
Acceptance Rate 12% 50.7%
Enrolled % 31.9% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Average
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/34 22/27
SAT Range 1430/1530 1090/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Colgate SUNY Cortland
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Education (41%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (16%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (5%)

Outcomes

Colgate SUNY Cortland
Graduation Rate 92% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,300 $47,300
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,125 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $166 $222

Diversity

Colgate SUNY Cortland
% Men 0% 3%
% Women 0% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 74%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 9% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 9% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

Colgate SUNY Cortland
% In-State 22% 94%
% Out-of-State 69% 5%

Campus

Colgate SUNY Cortland
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • SUNY College at Cortland is larger than than Colgate based on total student enrollment (6,780 students vs. 3,146 students)

Colgate vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or SUNY Cortland?

  • Colgate University is 842.3% more expensive to attend than SUNY Cortland for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 292.4% higher at Colgate than SUNY College at Cortland ($66,622.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY College at Cortland than Colgate ($18,474 vs. $26,954)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Cortland are 10.4% lower than costs at Colgate University ($15,210 vs. $16,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY College at Cortland than Colgate University (71% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 605.7% larger than aid received SUNY College at Cortland ($56,696 vs. $8,034)

Colgate vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate or SUNY Cortland? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SUNY Cortland or Colgate .

  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at SUNY Cortland (3.7)
  • SUNY Cortland has a higher acceptance rate (50.7%) than Colgate (12%)

Colgate vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colgate or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland and Colgate.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than SUNY College at Cortland (92% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn on average $28,000 more per year than SUNY Cortland graduates after ten years. ($75,300 vs. $47,300)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $5,375 lower median federal student loan debt than SUNY Cortland graduates. ($16,125 vs. $21,500)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than SUNY Cortland graduates. ($166 vs. $222)
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Cortland students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/