Colby College
#2 Best Colleges in Maine- Graduation Rate
- 89% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $80,490 A
- Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $17,180 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 7% A+
- Rejects about 93 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 34.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $34.9 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Colleges in Maine.
Every $1 spent returns $34.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,329,367.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 97% more than the national college median.
-
A 89% graduation rate — 57% above the national average.
-
Admits just 7% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.
-
Every $1 invested returns $34.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.8%
- Top 29%
- Patents
- 26
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 64
- Downstream influence
Why Colby College Matters
Colby College is a private liberal arts college in Waterville, ME and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,407
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Colby College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 7% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1460–1550. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,180 a year after grants and scholarships — 0% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $80,490 ten years after enrolling — 97% above the typical college, against $19,157 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 82% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 7%, Colby College is tailored for students who thrive in a highly selective environment and are eager to dive into topics like Social Sciences, Psychology, Biology, and Computer Science. It’s a small community of about 2,407 students, making it easier to form close connections with peers and professors alike. Those who choose Colby are often passionate about their fields and want to engage deeply in their studies.
Looking at life after graduation, alumni report impressive earnings, with a 10-year median income of $80,490. This suggests that a Colby education can lead to solid financial outcomes, helping graduates secure well-paying jobs. The affordability factor is also notable; with a net price of $17,180, many students find that they can graduate without being burdened by excessive debt, as the median debt sits at $19,157. This balance helps foster mobility for those who want to move up in their careers.
The numbers tell a clear story: Colby is not just about getting a degree but about setting up students for success in the real world. While 14% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that support is available for those who need it, the overall environment tends to attract highly motivated individuals. Those who thrive here share a commitment to their studies and benefit from both a strong academic foundation and a supportive community.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Colby College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Colby College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Waterville, Maine, Colby College turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 7%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,501. The graduation rate is roughly 89%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Retention Rate
- 94%
- SAT Average
- 1501
- ACT Midpoint
- 33
- SAT Range
- 1460–1550
- ACT Range
- 32–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 93%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,207
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 11%
- Applicants
- 16,890
- Admitted
- 1,286
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Colby College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Colby College is $69,600, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,180. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,049 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,157 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $69,600
- Out-of-State
- $69,600
- Avg Net Price
- $17,180
- Median Debt
- $19,157
- Pell Grant Rate
- 14%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,049
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,251
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $3,666
- Family Income $110K+
- $46,511
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Colby College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Colby College earn a median of $80,490, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $60,052
- 8 Years
- $68,015
- 10 Years
- $80,490
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 78%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (425)
- 89%
- 100% (425)
- 89%
- 100% (425)
- 89%
- 100% (425)
- 89%
How Colby Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Colby College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Colby College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,180/year ($68,720 total). Graduates earn $80,490 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,398,087 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,329,367 (34.9× your investment). The median debt is $19,157, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 89% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $68,720
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,398,087
- Net Return
- $2,329,367
- ROI Multiple
- 34.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,180
- Median Debt
- $19,157
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 89%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Colby College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Colby College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.90%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 1.5% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 60.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $208,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.90%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 60.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 1.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $208,700
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Colby College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 26 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.78%
- Top 29% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 26
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 64
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,342,000
- Investment Income
- $-114,499,000
Top Programs
The fields Colby College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Social Sciences 28%
- Biology & Biomedical 13%
- Psychology 9%
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Physical Sciences 7%
- Mathematics & Statistics 5%
- English & Literature 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Colby College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Colby College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Waterville, Maine, Colby College turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 7%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,501. The graduation rate is roughly 89%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Colby College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Colby College is $69,600, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,180. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,049 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,157 in federal student loans.
Is Colby College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Colby College earn a median of $80,490, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Colby College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Colby College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.90%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 1.5% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 60.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $208,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Colby College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Colby College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Colby College.
- Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, ME · Close peer95% grad $82,735 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA · Close peer95% grad $88,665 earn 8% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Davidson CollegeDavidson, NC · Close peer91% grad $81,400 earn 13% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA · Close peer93% grad $77,779 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · Close peer94% grad $77,644 earn 9% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, VT · Close peer92% grad $76,310 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Colby College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Colby College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note