SCU vs. Colgate

Deciding between Santa Clara University 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.

Santa Clara University
Colgate University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Colgate #30
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Colgate -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Colgate

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Colgate $58,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Colgate 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Colgate 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Colgate 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Colgate A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Colgate Very High
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Colgate 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Colgate 43%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Colgate 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Colgate Medium
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Colgate No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Colgate 67%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Colgate 3%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Colgate 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Colgate 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Colgate 66%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Clara University is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Colgate University is in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Colgate University 9:1.

SCU vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU 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 Colgate University than SCU ($28,736 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 11.5% lower than at Santa Clara University ($17,610 vs. $19,893).
  • Colgate University is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $9,013 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at Colgate than at Santa Clara University (about $9,013 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Colgate University (71% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 105.6% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($58,334 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. Colgate Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU 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 SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 70 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at SCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Colgate University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Colgate University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Colgate - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (48%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 28.7% at Colgate.

SCU vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU 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 Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Colgate graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $75,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $5,375 lower median loan debt than SCU graduates ($16,125 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.