Colgate vs. Vanderbilt

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

Colgate Vanderbilt
Location Hamilton, NY Nashville, TN
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 3,141 13,710
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #27 #14
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu vanderbilt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colgate Vanderbilt
Tuition (In State) $63,904 $58,130
Tuition (Out of State) $63,904 $58,130
Room & Board $16,106 $19,862
Avg Net Price $27,074 $25,606
Avg Grant Aid $54,647 $53,932
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 65%

Admission

Colgate Vanderbilt
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,109 46,377
Admitted 2,624 3,093
Acceptance Rate 12.4% 6.7%
Enrolled % 30.9% 52.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.89
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 32/34 34/35
SAT Range 1410/1530 1490/1570
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, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Colgate Vanderbilt
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Colgate Vanderbilt
Graduation Rate 92% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,300 $83,100
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,125 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $166 $144

Diversity

Colgate Vanderbilt
% Men 44% 44%
% Women 56% 56%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 55%
% Black 4% 8%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 9% 7%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

Colgate Vanderbilt
% In-State 19% 9%
% Out-of-State 71% 79%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Vanderbilt University is larger than than Colgate based on total student enrollment (13,710 students vs. 3,141 students)

Colgate vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or Vanderbilt?

  • Colgate University is 9.9% more expensive to attend than Vanderbilt for in-state tuition ($63,904.00 vs. $58,130.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at Colgate than Vanderbilt University ($63,904.00 vs. $58,130.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vanderbilt University than Colgate ($25,606 vs. $27,074)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 23.3% lower than costs at Vanderbilt University ($16,106 vs. $19,862)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Vanderbilt University than Colgate University (65% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 1.3% larger than aid received Vanderbilt University ($54,647 vs. $53,932)

Colgate vs. Vanderbilt Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Vanderbilt University (1498) is 124 points higher than at Colgate (1374)
  • Incoming Vanderbilt students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Colgate (32)
  • Accepted freshman Vanderbilt students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Colgate (3.77)
  • Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (12.4%) than Vanderbilt (6.7%)

Colgate vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colgate or Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt and Colgate.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is the same as at Vanderbilt University (92% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn on average $7,800 more per year than Colgate graduates after ten years. ($83,100 vs. $75,300)
  • Vanderbilt University students graduate with a $2,125 lower median federal student loan debt than Colgate graduates. ($14,000 vs. $16,125)
  • Vanderbilt graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Colgate graduates. ($144 vs. $166)
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanderbilt students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 83%)

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