Founded in 1819, Colgate University. is a Private college. Located in New York, which is a city setting in New York, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 2,882 full time undergraduate students, and 8 full time graduate students.
The Colgate University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 9:1. There are 310 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Colgate University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
28%
Application Deadline
15-Nov
Application Fee
60
SAT Range
1290-1460
ACT Range
30-33
Admissions at are considered More Selective, with ,22% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 9 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
98% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 90% were in the top quarter, and 68% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Colgate University.
14%
“We”re apathetic”
44%
“We know about current events and vote”
39%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
3%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
28%
“Sometimes, but not often”
57%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
11%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
15%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
83%
“I feel extremely safe”
16%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
70%
“We bought the gear”
14%
“We live for the big game”
11%
“It”s not really our thing”
45%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
40%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
4%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
4%
“Available in class”
45%
“They keep regular office hours”
49%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
16%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
67%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
16%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
1%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
29%
“We only party on weekends”
70%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
2%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
45%
“There might be people who do”
48%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
6%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
14%
“We”re apathetic”
44%
“We know about current events and vote”
39%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
3%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
28%
“Sometimes, but not often”
57%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
11%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
15%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
83%
“I feel extremely safe”
16%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
70%
“We bought the gear”
14%
“We live for the big game”
11%
“It”s not really our thing”
45%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
40%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
4%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
4%
“Available in class”
45%
“They keep regular office hours”
49%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
16%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
67%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
16%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
52 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 15 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
39 Students rated off-campus housing 3.2 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
52 Students rated campus food 3 stars. 8 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
51 Students rated campus facilities 4.5 stars. 59 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
51 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 75 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
51 Students rated school activities 4.2 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
52 Students rated local services 3.4 stars. 21 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
50 Students rated academics 4 stars. 40 % gave the school a 5.0.
Colgate University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Colgate University?
15 Students rated Colgate University
Meenakshi
Prospective04/24/2025
I like the work hard play hard aspect.
Sarah
03/22/2020
Colgate University is a very prestigious school that I am excited to apply for. The campus is beautiful and the dorms look awesome! It’s really easy to see myself being a freshman at Colgate and the community seems very easygoing. I really hope to attend in 2021.
Jj
12/16/2019
My negative ratings are not for the academic rigor or the beautiful campus, but instead I am bothered by just how fake the administration is when they get you to commit to attending this school. Once I moved onto campus it became very clear that the administration is money hungry and cares very little about the well being of its students. Our housing has high levels of lead in the water. We were drinking this water for months without any knowledge. Now there is a filter on the kitchen faucet but they had to turn off the hot water. We have been told that’s its perfectly sanitary to wash hands and dishes in cold water. They said they have no plan to turn the hot water back on. Juniors and seniors have an extremely difficult time living off campus. Colgate owns most every housing option and only allows a very limited number of students to live off campus. Again, they want your money! The Town of Hamilton has nothing. Only one grocery store and a Big Lots. There are very few restaurants or things to do off campus. Not many students attend the football and basketball games. Boring. If you are looking for a small private school with things to do and an administration who cares about its students look elsewhere.
Taylor
04/09/2019
I will attend Colgate to play volleyball. The school was my top choice for both volleyball and academics. 13 is a very lucky number in our home and it was very coincidental that Colgate's lucky number is 13 as well. I felt with this as well it was meant to be. The campus is pristine as well as the housing and the sports arenas. Everything is accessible and the classrooms are very easy to get to as well. The student population is very diverse with many international students and that is important to me.
Claire
01/15/2019
The campus is absolutely beautiful and I can’t imagine going anywhere else. It’s a great place if you’re looking for solid academics and awesome study abroad opportunities. I was able to go to Italy, Bolivia, and South Africa thanks to the Off-Campus Study Office and Financial Aid. Colgate doesn’t offer merit scholarships, but they cover 100% of demonstrated financial need, and this has been a lifesaver for me! Not so great with diversity, although they are trying. I’m not a huge fan of the typical social scene because it is very Greek-dominated, but once you find your niche it’s a comfortable place to be. Colgate is known for being a huge party school because it’s located in the middle of nowhere, but there is plenty to do besides party! For example, I’m involved with the hiking club and the ski and snowboard club which offer free trips for anyone interested. Career Services and the alumni network is also AMAZING. I applied for summer funding the day before it was due and got off the wait list in time to score an awesome internship close to home. All in all, there are many advantages to being a Colgate student as long as you find your social niche and can afford what they ask you to pay!
Destiny
09/18/2018
Colgate University is a college of the elite, white, and wealthy. The campus is as white as they come, from the constant white snow falling on the ground to the sea of upper-class, white students spread throughout the quad. Colgate is place of constant Darties (day parties) and underground fraternities where sexism, racism, homophobia, and transphobia run rampant, though they try their best to make themselves look as "diverse" as possible (y'all ain't fooling no one).
Maria
06/05/2018
Moving across the country for college was the most terrifying thing I have ever done, but it was also the best choice I have ever made. I could not have asked for a more rewarding college experience. I have grown so much over the past four years and I am so grateful to have spent my time at an institution where the professors and staff care about me personally as well as academically.
Jake
01/01/2018
Good school and good people. Partying is big, but people who don't partake exist. One of the biggest issues on campus seems to be a lack of diversity and an overall feeling of inclusiveness. Like lots of other small liberal arts schools, its pretty white. That being said, the community is tight-knit and overall it's a great school.
Jaanvi
11/06/2017
Colgate has good facilities, provides a solid education, and has students that are passionate about various issues. However, it does have a diversity problem, and some of the attending students are less intelligent than others. Overall, if taken advantage of, the multidisciplinary education and the professors are great resources, and the alumni connections in certain fields can take one far.
Hayley
06/20/2017
Colgate University is a grade A scam. Orientation consists of overdone icebreakers and hokey speeches, whose calls to be more welcoming and inclusive fall on deaf ears. The students are aloof, unfriendly, and uncaring. If you're not a rich guy or girl dressed to the nines, you're left behind. Students with mental illnesses have to surrender their privacy and freedom to the scumbag administration that purports to care about them, but doesn't. The counseling center is also sub-par. If even the slightest thing goes wrong, counselors will badger you to go to the hospital. And once you're discharged, you're booted out and would have to go through needless rigamarole to get back in. Colgate University is a school that puts its reputation at the expense of the most vulnerable students and fosters a toxic culture among the student body.
Shoshi
05/03/2017
It is fine. There are people who are classist, sexist, and racist. There are many problems on campus. But academics are good, and the campus is beautiful. There are always things going on. There is also a lot of apathetic white people who only care about themselves and money.
John
01/10/2017
Colgate is an academically intensive university where schoolwork takes priority. Although located in a tiny rural town of 3,000, I never feel like there's nothing to do. Between school, an on-campus, job, and extracurricular events I'm always busy. The science program is extremely rigorous, but attentive faculty and great facilities are always reliable resources.
Erin
01/03/2017
I couldn't be happier with all the amazing opportunities to get involved at Colgate. Though it is a small school, there's definitely something for everyone here. Another great thing about Colgate is the alumnae - they're always reaching out to current students or coming to campus to recruit for jobs and internships. Career Services really puts an emphasis on bringing great alums, speakers, and recruiters to campus, and I feel comfortable that my Colgate degree will help me get a job after graduation. If anything, I wish the tuition price wasn't as steep. Colgate is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need, but this isn't always enough for every student. Most students come from upper class backgrounds, so it can be a financial struggle for families of less fortunate socioeconomic backgrounds.
Morgan
12/18/2016
I really love Colgate University. While I'm only a first year, the campus environment is very welcoming. Everyone is nice if you're willing to step out of your world a little bit and engage in the incredibly worldly community that is Colgate. I've never had such passionate professors, or supportive friends, in my life. While the winters are frigid, they're magical. The campus is beautiful. And if you're friendly with the dining hall staff, the food doesn't have to be so bad.
Cindy
08/25/2016
Colgate is a very good place to be if you enjoy letting out your ideas and take in others. Small class sizes (usually 28 and less) is a plus in addition to super caring professors who are there to help you succeed. The campus is absolutely beautiful. Campus dorm and food may not be the best.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Colgate University is 28%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
There are rich and smart kids but in general everyone is pretty friendly.
Best: Academics -- stellar, engaging. It's awesome.
Change: The weather. Fuck cold.
Size: Just right.
Reactions: People down south haven't really heard of Colgate.
Time: Studying, duh. Or procrastinating.
College town: Haha... Hamilton grows on you, it's not that bad, but there's nothing really to do.
Administration: Let's face it, administration, no matter where from, is helplessly suffocated by its own bullshit bureaucracy. That consider, administration at Colgate is above par.
Controversy: The Greek house purchases were controversial, but few really gave a fuck.
Pride: Yes, lots... mostly.
Unusual: During orientation, freshman are given hype about all sorts of "traditions" -- it's all crap. We don't have these meaningless arbitrary "traditions" like those retards down at A&M. Listen, I went to college to learn physics, not to shout some fag chant every time a football player scored a touchdown.
Experience I'll remember: making out with girls.
Student complaints: Students complain about the weather and the small town. And by students I mean freshman. A few pussies transfer out after freshman year because they're too weak to handle a bit of cold and -- for heaven's sake -- to learn how to survive in a place that's not flooded with wal-marts and other evil conveniences of the 21st century. The rest of us stay and learn to love it.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
Popular groups: uh... ask someone else.
My groups: COVE, the volunteering group.
Doors: Yes, doors remain open.
Athletic events: I'm not a sports-goer, don't ask me. The occasional hockey game is pretty neat.
Dating scene: OK, here's the lowdown: get drunk, go to the jug, hook up. From here there are two options: 1- avoid awkward eye contact on the quad for the rest of the semester, or 2- remain in friendly contact in what is called a casual relationship. Keep in mind that this is the cliche here, and it's not entirely true. Yes, this scenario happens, but many students do find themselves in exclusive relationships.
Friends; Met most of them in classes.
Tuesday: Working on a physics assignment due the next day.
Traditions: SPW baby!
Party: On average, I say once a week. It's hard to go out both Fri and Sat. And a minority of students party on weekdays. A small minority. It's not uncommon to go a few weeks without partying. This is the truth.
Frats/Sors: Yeah, they're important, I guess.
Last weekend: Partied. Movie.
Sat night w/ no drinking: Hang out with friends. Go sledding.
Off campus: Go eat pizza. That's about it.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
Colgate's campus is incredibly beautiful. The views from my dorm room window are priceless. Everyday I am awed by the campus's beauty and the spectacular views that surround it.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
I would tell myself to get as involved as possible. The only reason I have the friends I do is because I wholly invested myself in the campus radio as soon as school started, However, I should have initially been friendlier to people instead of writing them off as people I didn't think I'd get along with. I spent too much time searching for the perfect friends instead of making friends with the people that there were. To try to correct that, I pledged a sorority and am now becoming friends with girls I don't necessarily have anything in common with. The important thing is to keep an open mind, especially at such a small school.
The best thing about Colgate University is that the class sizes are really small which allows the students to have a very intellectual and intimate relationship with the professors and the material being thought. The small class sizes not only allow for a better relationship with the professor but it also makes it easier to learn from the professor and get intellectually involved with the material.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
I am most impressed by Colgate's study abroad programs. I went on two of them! I spent a semester in Wollongong, Australia with Colgate's Environmental Studies department where I lived with Australian students, took classes at an Australian university and traveled with our study group. I also spent a semester in London, England with Colgate's English department. We went to museums, saw plays, learned about British history and traveled as a group. Because these programs were run by Colgate, I had no trouble tranfering the courses to get credit for my major.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing about Colgate is its focus on Greek life. Fraternities rule the social scene. And unfortunately, fraternies in real life are very similar to their TV and movie representation. Lots of alcohol.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
I don't know about stereotypes but people often assume everyone at Colgate is preppy. I will say that on the surface, it does happen sometimes, but the people who break the mold are so admired and loved. Personality wise, preppy could be the farthest thing from the truth.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
56% of students attending Colgate University receive some sort of financial aid.
15% were awarded federal grants.26%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.