Colgate vs. UB

Deciding between Colgate University and University at Buffalo? 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
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University at Buffalo is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

Colgate vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or UB? 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 University at Buffalo than Colgate ($20,529 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 1% lower than at Colgate University ($17,426 vs. $17,610).
  • Colgate University is 542.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $59,370 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 122.9% higher at Colgate than at University at Buffalo (about $38,770 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Colgate University (76% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 447.1% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($58,334 vs. $10,663).

Colgate vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 190 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 1430/1540; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 14.1% at UB.

Colgate vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate and UB? 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $3,375 lower median loan debt than UB graduates ($16,125 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UB graduates ($166 vs. $201).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 70%)

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.