Rutgers vs. Colgate

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Colgate 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Colgate University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Colgate #30
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Colgate -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Colgate

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Colgate $58,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Colgate 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Colgate 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Colgate 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Colgate A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Colgate Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Colgate 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Colgate 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Colgate 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Colgate $166

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Colgate 43%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Colgate 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Colgate Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Colgate No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Colgate 67%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Colgate 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Colgate 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Colgate 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Colgate 66%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Colgate University in Hamilton, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Colgate University is in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Colgate University 9:1.

Rutgers vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Colgate? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Colgate ($20,522 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 10.8% lower than at Colgate University ($15,714 vs. $17,610).
  • Colgate University is 292.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $52,377 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87.8% higher at Colgate than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $32,865 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at Colgate University (50% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 248.4% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($58,334 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Colgate Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 80 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Colgate University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Colgate University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Colgate - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 28.7% at Colgate.

Rutgers vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Colgate? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $6,090 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($16,125 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($166 vs. $229).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 68%)

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.