Wesleyan University vs. Colby College

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

Wesleyan University Colby College
Location Middletown, CT Waterville, ME
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 3,253 2,299
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #33 #44
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wesleyan.edu colby.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wesleyan University Colby College
Tuition (In State) $63,722 $60,840
Tuition (Out of State) $63,722 $60,840
Room & Board $18,180 $16,330
Avg Net Price $21,270 $16,951
Avg Grant Aid $59,825 $61,714
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 41%

Admission

Wesleyan University Colby College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,521 16,890
Admitted 2,096 1,286
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 7.6%
Enrolled % 35.4% 52.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.86
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/34 32/34
SAT Range 1320/1510 1430/1540
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 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Wesleyan University Colby College
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Ethnic Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Wesleyan University Colby College
Graduation Rate 92% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $73,400
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $19,345
Median Loan Payment $180 $200

Diversity

Wesleyan University Colby College
% Men 46% 48%
% Women 54% 52%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 53% 62%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 5%
% International 9% 11%
% Unknown Race 5% 7%

Students

Wesleyan University Colby College
% In-State 8% 7%
% Out-of-State 80% 79%

Campus

Wesleyan University Colby College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wesleyan University is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (3,253 students vs. 2,299 students)

Wesleyan University vs. Colby College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or Colby College?

  • Wesleyan University is 4.7% more expensive to attend than Colby College for in-state tuition ($63,722.00 vs. $60,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Wesleyan University than Colby College ($63,722.00 vs. $60,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Wesleyan University ($16,951 vs. $21,270)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 11.3% lower than costs at Wesleyan University ($16,330 vs. $18,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wesleyan University than Colby College (44% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 3.2% larger than aid received Wesleyan University ($61,714 vs. $59,825)

Wesleyan University vs. Colby College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Wesleyan University has a higher acceptance rate (14.4%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Wesleyan University vs. Colby College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wesleyan University or Colby College? 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 Colby College and Wesleyan University.

  • The graduation rate at Wesleyan University is higher than Colby College (92% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $15,400 more per year than Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $58,000)
  • Wesleyan University students graduate with a $1,845 lower median federal student loan debt than Colby College graduates. ($17,500 vs. $19,345)
  • Wesleyan University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Colby College graduates. ($180 vs. $200)
  • More Wesleyan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

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