Skidmore College
- Graduation Rate
- 82% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $69,363 A
- Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $32,297 F
- 88% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 21% A
- Admits roughly 21% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,333,569.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 70% more than the national college median.
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A 82% graduation rate — 44% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Skidmore College Matters
Skidmore College is a private liberal arts college in Saratoga Springs, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% 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
- 2,694
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Skidmore 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
Selective — admits about 21% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1340–1480. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $32,297 a year after grants and scholarships — 88% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $69,363 ten years after enrolling — 70% above the typical college, against $19,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 29% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.81 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 21%, Skidmore College attracts motivated students who are eager to engage in a dynamic academic environment. Located in Saratoga Springs, NY, it’s a place where students can delve into a variety of fields like Business & Marketing, Psychology, and Visual & Performing Arts. The college fosters a collaborative atmosphere that encourages creativity and critical thinking, making it a great fit for those looking to explore interdisciplinary studies.
Graduates from Skidmore can expect a promising outlook, with a median earning of $69,363 ten years after completing their degree. This figure speaks volumes about the potential return on investment for students who dive into their studies here. While the college has a relatively low rate of Pell Grant recipients at 13%, it shows that students from diverse economic backgrounds can succeed, although the affordability of higher education remains a concern for many.
In terms of financials, the net price after aid stands at $32,297, which can be manageable for many families, especially when weighed against the median debt of $19,500. Students who thrive here are often those who take full advantage of the college's resources, engage in campus life, and actively pursue internships or research opportunities. With a graduation rate of 82%, it's clear that Skidmore supports its students in achieving their academic goals while preparing them for successful careers.
Rankings
- #17 Best Biology Colleges in New York
- #19 Best Bachelor's Programs in New York
- #20 Best Master's Programs in New York
- #20 Best Computer Science Colleges in New York
- #20 Best Data Science Colleges in New York
- #21 Best Business Colleges in New York
- #22 Best Psychology Colleges in New York
- #24 Best Colleges in New York
Can I Get In?
How selective Skidmore 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 Skidmore College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Saratoga Springs, New York, Skidmore College sets a competitive bar: about 21% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,405. The graduation rate is roughly 82%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 21%
- Retention Rate
- 90%
- SAT Average
- 1405
- ACT Midpoint
- 31
- SAT Range
- 1340–1480
- ACT Range
- 31–33
- Full-Time Faculty
- 77%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,403
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.56
- First-Gen Students
- 15%
- Applicants
- 13,183
- Admitted
- 3,367
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Skidmore College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 24% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 24%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 25%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 8%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 42.4%
- vs 23.8% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 847 Early Decision applicants, 359 were admitted — a 42.4% admit rate, roughly 1.8× the 23.8% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 52% of the entering class (359 of 692 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 33% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 Skidmore College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Skidmore College is $67,290, 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 $32,297. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,932 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $67,290
- Out-of-State
- $67,290
- Avg Net Price
- $32,297
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 13%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 33%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,932
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,454
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,855
- Family Income $110K+
- $45,136
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Skidmore College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Skidmore College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Skidmore College earn a median of $69,363, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,923
- 8 Years
- $59,421
- 10 Years
- $69,363
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (599)
- 83%
- 100% (599)
- 83%
- 100% (599)
- 83%
- 100% (599)
- 83%
How Skidmore 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 Skidmore College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Skidmore College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $32,297/year ($129,188 total). Graduates earn $69,363 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,462,757 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,333,569 (19.1× your investment). The median debt is $19,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 82% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $129,188
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,462,757
- Net Return
- $2,333,569
- ROI Multiple
- 19.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $32,297
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 82%
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 Skidmore College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Skidmore 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 1.98%, well above the typical college. About 4.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 44.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $175,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.98%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 44.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $238,307
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,591,000
- Investment Income
- $-37,011,000
Top Programs
The fields Skidmore College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 16% $54,760 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $51,775 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 13% $41,235 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $32,182 early-career
- Psychology 9% $43,569 early-career
- English & Literature 5% $32,002 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $59,730 early-career
- Physical Sciences 5% $43,782 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Skidmore College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Skidmore College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Saratoga Springs, New York, Skidmore College sets a competitive bar: about 21% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,405. The graduation rate is roughly 82%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Skidmore College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Skidmore College is $67,290, 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 $32,297. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,932 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
Is Skidmore College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Skidmore College earn a median of $69,363, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Skidmore College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Skidmore 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 1.98%, well above the typical college. About 4.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 44.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $175,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Skidmore 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 Skidmore College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Skidmore College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Skidmore College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 42%, about 1.8 times the overall 24% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 52% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Skidmore College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Skidmore College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 33% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Skidmore College (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Skidmore College?
About 24% of admitted students choose to enroll at Skidmore College — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Skidmore College.
- Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA · Close peer89% grad $64,027 earn 21% 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
- Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · Close peer90% grad $71,366 earn 19% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC · Close peer74% grad $72,085 earn 23% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Pitzer CollegeClaremont, CA · Close peer83% grad $69,512 earn 25% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO · Close peer87% grad $65,222 earn 18% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Skidmore 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 Skidmore College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note