Colgate vs. SUNY Poly

Should I go to Colgate University or SUNY Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colgate or SUNY Poly 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 Polytechnic Institute comparison
Colgate University SUNY Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Colgate University SUNY Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 Colgate SUNY Poly
Location Hamilton, NY Utica, NY
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,146 2,704
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #27 #307
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu sunyit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Colgate SUNY Poly
Tuition (In State) $66,622 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $66,622 $18,720
Room & Board $16,790 $14,750
Avg Net Price $26,954 $14,646
Avg Grant Aid $56,696 $8,137
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 90%

Admission

 Colgate SUNY Poly
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,130 4,936
Admitted 2,526 3,872
Acceptance Rate 12% 78.4%
Enrolled % 31.9% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 33/34 24/27
SAT Range 1430/1530 1150/1330
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 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 Colgate SUNY Poly
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Engineering Technology (20%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

 Colgate SUNY Poly
Graduation Rate 92% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,300 $53,200
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,125 $16,585
Median Loan Payment $166 $171

Diversity

 Colgate SUNY Poly
% Men 0% 11%
% Women 0% 19%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 79%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 9% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 9% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

 Colgate SUNY Poly
% In-State 22% 95%
% Out-of-State 69% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Colgate University is larger than than SUNY Poly based on total student enrollment (3,146 students vs. 2,704 students)

Colgate vs. SUNY Poly Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or SUNY Poly?

  • Colgate University is 842.3% more expensive to attend than SUNY Poly for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 255.9% higher at Colgate than SUNY Polytechnic Institute ($66,622.00 vs. $18,720.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than Colgate ($14,646 vs. $26,954)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are 13.8% lower than costs at Colgate University ($14,750 vs. $16,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than Colgate University (90% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 596.8% larger than aid received SUNY Polytechnic Institute ($56,696 vs. $8,137)

Colgate vs. SUNY Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 233 points higher than at SUNY Poly (1141)
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at SUNY Poly (26)
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at SUNY Poly (3.7)
  • SUNY Poly has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Colgate (12%)

Colgate vs. SUNY Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than SUNY Polytechnic Institute (92% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn on average $22,100 more per year than SUNY Poly graduates after ten years. ($75,300 vs. $53,200)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $460 lower median federal student loan debt than SUNY Poly graduates. ($16,125 vs. $16,585)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than SUNY Poly graduates. ($166 vs. $171)
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 63%)

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