Yale vs. Colgate

Deciding between Yale 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.

Yale University
Colgate University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Colgate #30
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Colgate -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Colgate

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Colgate $58,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Colgate 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Colgate 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Colgate 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Colgate A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Colgate Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Colgate 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Colgate 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Colgate 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Colgate $166

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Colgate 43%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Colgate 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Colgate Medium
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Colgate No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Colgate 67%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Colgate 3%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Colgate 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Colgate 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Colgate 66%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Colgate University in Hamilton, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Colgate University is in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Colgate University 9:1.

Yale vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than Colgate ($22,408 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 11.5% lower than at Yale University ($17,610 vs. $19,900).
  • Colgate University is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $3,056 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at Colgate than at Yale University (about $3,056 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Colgate University (56% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 13% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($65,892 vs. $58,334).

Yale vs. Colgate Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 30 points higher than at Colgate (1490).
  • Incoming Yale students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Colgate).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Colgate University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Colgate University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Colgate - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 28.7% at Colgate.

Yale vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Colgate University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $43,100 more per year than Colgate graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $75,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $2,625 lower median loan debt than Colgate graduates ($13,500 vs. $16,125).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colgate graduates ($139 vs. $166).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale 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.