UMass vs. Colgate

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Colgate University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Colgate #30
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Colgate -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Colgate

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Colgate $58,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Colgate 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Colgate 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Colgate 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Colgate A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Colgate Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Colgate 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Colgate 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Colgate 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Colgate $166

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Colgate 43%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Colgate 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Colgate Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Colgate No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Colgate 67%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Colgate 3%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Colgate 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Colgate 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Colgate 66%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Colgate University in Hamilton, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Colgate University is in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Colgate University 9:1.

UMass vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst than Colgate ($22,948 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 5.1% lower than at Colgate University ($16,710 vs. $17,610).
  • Colgate University is 295.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $52,534 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.8% higher at Colgate than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $29,857 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Colgate University (81% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 345% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($58,334 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Colgate Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 80 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Colgate University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Colgate University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Colgate - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 28.7% at Colgate.

UMass vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $20,100 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $7,875 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($16,125 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($166 vs. $248).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 76%)

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.