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Hamilton College Admission Requirements

Clinton, New York

 1 Reviews

Your chances of getting into Hamilton College

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

11.8%
Admission Difficulty for Hamilton College
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Elite 
Applicant Competition Very High 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Hamilton College is 11.8%.  Its admission rate is the 6th lowest in New York and the 44th lowest the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Hamilton College and can you get accepted?

Hamilton College is a very highly competitive school to get into. You have a low chance of acceptance even if you meet the admission criteria. It's important that you meet their GPA requirements to get through the first round of consideration. Last year, only 1,166 out of the 9,899 who applied were admitted.

Hamilton College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.87. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 41% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Hamilton College?

12% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

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Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Hamilton College you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.87 or better
  • Earn A- grades in high school
  • Score 1480 on the SAT
  • Score 33 on the ACT
  • Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class

Hamilton College GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.87*

Typical High School Grades 

A-

What GPA do you need to get into Hamilton College?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Hamilton College are to have around a 3.87 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough for you to gain admission as Hamilton College is a very selective school.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Hamilton College is 3.87 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #8 in New York for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Hamilton College is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.87 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

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Hamilton College SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Hamilton College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 37% of students submitted SAT scores and 18% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

1420-1540

Applicants Submitting SAT 

37%
SAT Scores for Hamilton College
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 700
Math 25th Percentile 720
Composite 25th Percentile 1420
SAT Scores for Hamilton College
SAT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 760
Math 75th Percentile 780
Composite 75th Percentile 1540
Average SAT Score 1480

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Hamilton College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Hamilton College is 1480 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1420-1540. Students who get into Hamilton College score in the top 4 percent of all SAT test takers..  Hamilton College ranks #7 in the state of New York and #44 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1480 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Hamilton College regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1420 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1420, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1360, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Hamilton College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1480 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1480, you have around a 12% chance of being admitted. A 1540 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 21% chance of getting in.

Hamilton College admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1540 and Above Good >21%
1480 to 1540 Avg + 12%-21%
1420 to 1480 Avg - 7%-12%
1360 to 1420 Reach 4%-7%
Less than 1360 Low <4%
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Hamilton College ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

33-34 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

18%
ACT Scores for Hamilton College
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile N/A
Math 25th Percentile N/A
Composite 25th Percentile 33
ACT Scores for Hamilton College
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile N/A
Math 75th Percentile N/A
Composite 75th Percentile 34
Average ACT Score 33

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Hamilton College?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Hamilton College is 33, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 33 and 34.  The school ranks #8 in New York and #46 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 33. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 33 and score in the score in the top 2 percent nationally.

18 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Hamilton College.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Hamilton College is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Hamilton College for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 33 score has around 12% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 33% with a 34 ACT score.

Hamilton College admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
34 and Above Good >33%
33 to 34 Avg + 12%-33%
33 to 33 Avg - 12%-12%
33 to 33 Reach 12%-12%
Less than 33 Low <12%
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High School Class Rank

80% of Hamilton College freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Hamilton College students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 80%
Top 25% of class 99%
Top 50% of class 100%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Hamilton College admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 5,791 4,108 9,899
Accepted 715 451 1,166
Acceptance Rate 12% 11% 12%
Enrolled 279 199 478
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 39% 44% 41%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 5, 2025

Days left to Apply

45

Applicants have 45 days left until the Fall 2024 term applications are due on Jan 5, 2025.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Hamilton College is $60.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Hamilton College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Hamilton College Application Requirements
Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
High School Class Rank Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Hamilton College
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit No
Credit for Life Experiences No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Hamilton College is very highly competitive, you have a low likelihood of acceptance. It is important that you earn at least a 3.87 GPA to have a good shot at getting in. Additionally, you need to score a 1480 on the SAT and optimally 1540 to place yourself in a strong position. For ACT scores, you need a 33 to have a competitive chance of getting in.

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to Hamilton College often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=191515 IPEDS survey data for Hamilton College.

Last updated February 24, 2024