SCU vs. Colgate

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

SCU Colgate
Location Santa Clara, CA Hamilton, NY
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 9,340 3,146
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #54 #27
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website scu.edu colgate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SCU Colgate
Tuition (In State) $58,587 $66,622
Tuition (Out of State) $58,587 $66,622
Room & Board $18,984 $16,790
Avg Net Price $49,651 $26,954
Avg Grant Aid $28,375 $56,696
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 43%

Admission

SCU Colgate
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,843 21,130
Admitted 8,261 2,526
Acceptance Rate 43.8% 12%
Enrolled % 18.8% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.77
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 30/33 33/34
SAT Range 1340/1500 1430/1530
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 7, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

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

Outcomes

SCU Colgate
Graduation Rate 85% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $81,900 $75,300
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $16,125
Median Loan Payment $222 $166

Diversity

SCU Colgate
% Men 15% 0%
% Women 18% 0%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 49% 67%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 17% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 3%
% International 3% 9%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

SCU Colgate
% In-State 50% 22%
% Out-of-State 40% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Santa Clara University is larger than than Colgate based on total student enrollment (9,340 students vs. 3,146 students)

SCU vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or Colgate?

  • Colgate University is 13.7% more expensive to attend than SCU for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $58,587.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.7% higher at Colgate than Santa Clara University ($66,622.00 vs. $58,587.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than SCU ($26,954 vs. $49,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 13.1% lower than costs at Santa Clara University ($16,790 vs. $18,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Santa Clara University than Colgate University (73% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 99.8% larger than aid received Santa Clara University ($56,696 vs. $28,375)

SCU vs. Colgate Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 61 points higher than at SCU (1313)
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at SCU (30)
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at SCU (3.67)
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (43.8%) than Colgate (12%)

SCU vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Santa Clara University (92% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Colgate graduates after ten years. ($81,900 vs. $75,300)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $5,375 lower median federal student loan debt than SCU graduates. ($16,125 vs. $21,500)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than SCU graduates. ($166 vs. $222)
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 84%)

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