Hamilton College
#6 Best Biology Colleges in New York- Graduation Rate
- 91% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $78,411 A
- Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $28,985 F
- 69% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 14% A+
- Rejects about 86 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 19.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.3 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Biology Colleges in New York.
Every $1 spent returns $19.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,118,849.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 92% more than the national college median.
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A 91% graduation rate — 59% above the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.30% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Admits just 14% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.5%
- Top 45%
- Patents
- 11
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 18
- Downstream influence
Why Hamilton College Matters
Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. 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
- 2,030
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Visual & Performing Arts, English & Literature
Why students choose Hamilton 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 14% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1450–1550. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $28,985 a year after grants and scholarships — 69% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $78,411 ten years after enrolling — 92% above the typical college, against $17,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 21% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.84 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Hamilton College is a private nonprofit school that serves around 2,030 students, making it a tight-knit community where individuals can thrive. With an acceptance rate of just 14%, it attracts students who are passionate and driven, particularly in fields like Social Sciences, Biology and Biomedical studies, Visual and Performing Arts, English and Literature, and Computer Science. The graduation rate is impressive at 91%, reflecting a supportive environment where students can focus on their studies and achieve their academic goals.
After graduation, students can expect solid financial outcomes, with a median earning of $78,411 ten years after completing their degree. This indicates that many graduates find rewarding careers and are able to move into professional roles that pay well. The affordability of education is also a consideration, with a net price of $28,985 after financial aid. This combination of earning potential and reasonable costs can be quite appealing for future students weighing their options.
When it comes to student debt, Hamilton graduates leave with a median debt load of $17,000, which is manageable compared to many institutions. The college's environment tends to foster success for those who are engaged and proactive in their education. Students who thrive here are often those who take advantage of the close-knit community and diverse academic offerings, setting them up for a fulfilling career path after graduation.
Rankings
- #6 Best Biology Colleges in New York
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in New York
- #11 Best Master's Programs in New York
- #11 Best Computer Science Colleges in New York
- #11 Best Data Science Colleges in New York
- #12 Best Colleges in New York
- #13 Best Psychology Colleges in New York
- #18 Best Colleges for English
Can I Get In?
How selective Hamilton 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 Hamilton College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Clinton, New York, Hamilton College sets a competitive bar: about 14% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,506. The graduation rate is roughly 91%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Retention Rate
- 95%
- SAT Average
- 1506
- ACT Midpoint
- 34
- SAT Range
- 1450–1550
- ACT Range
- 33–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 76%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,404
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 13%
- Applicants
- 9,899
- Admitted
- 1,166
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 Hamilton College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hamilton College is $68,960, 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 $28,985. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,028 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $68,960
- Out-of-State
- $68,960
- Avg Net Price
- $28,985
- Median Debt
- $17,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 18%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 29%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,028
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,489
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,863
- Family Income $110K+
- $46,907
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Hamilton College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hamilton College earn a median of $78,411, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $60,082
- 8 Years
- $74,462
- 10 Years
- $78,411
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 74%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (403)
- 86%
- 100% (403)
- 86%
- 100% (403)
- 86%
- 100% (403)
- 86%
How Hamilton 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 Hamilton College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hamilton College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $28,985/year ($115,940 total). Graduates earn $78,411 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,234,789 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,118,849 (19.3× your investment). The median debt is $17,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 91% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $115,940
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,234,789
- Net Return
- $2,118,849
- ROI Multiple
- 19.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $28,985
- Median Debt
- $17,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 91%
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 Hamilton College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hamilton College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.30%, among the highest in the country. Access is narrower: only about 3.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 59.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $164,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.30%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 59.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $164,600
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Hamilton College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 11 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.51%
- Top 45% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 11
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 18
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,415,000
- Investment Income
- $-124,170,000
Top Programs
The fields Hamilton 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 29%
- Biology & Biomedical 14%
- Visual & Performing Arts 8%
- English & Literature 8%
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Psychology 4%
- Physical Sciences 3%
- Mathematics & Statistics 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hamilton 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 Hamilton College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Clinton, New York, Hamilton College sets a competitive bar: about 14% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,506. The graduation rate is roughly 91%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hamilton College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hamilton College is $68,960, 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 $28,985. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,028 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,000 in federal student loans.
Is Hamilton College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hamilton College earn a median of $78,411, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Hamilton College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hamilton College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.30%, among the highest in the country. Access is narrower: only about 3.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 59.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $164,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Hamilton 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 Hamilton College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Compare Hamilton College
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hamilton College.
- Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · Close peer94% grad $77,644 earn 9% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA · Close peer91% grad $84,803 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Close peer90% grad $75,525 earn 20% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Haverford CollegeHaverford, PA · Close peer90% grad $79,966 earn 12% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA · Close peer93% grad $80,257 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT · Close peer92% grad $73,897 earn 16% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hamilton 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 Hamilton College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note