Colby College

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85.3
College Consensus
AVERAGE: 69
83.7
Publisher Consensus
AVERAGE: 58.7
86.9
Student Consensus
AVERAGE: 76.9
Publisher Ratings
95.3
Washington Monthly Liberal Arts
90.6
U.S. News - National Liberal Arts Colleges
86.3
Wallethub
80.9
Wall Street Journal
65.6
Forbes
Student Reviews
98.6
U.S. News - Reviews
87.2
Grad Reports
86
Unigo
76
Niche
Scores last updated on January 6, 2024
8%
Percent Admitted
89%
4-year Graduation Rate
2,299
Enrollment
10.0:1
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
$54,700
Average Undergraduate Students Aid
$63,520
In-State Tuition and Fees
$63,520
Out-of-State Tuition and Fees
= Average
Sector
Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
Carnegie Classification
Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Religious Affiliation
Not applicable

Colby College is a private 4-year college in Waterville, ME that was founded in 1813 (in Massachusetts before Maine became a state!). In 1871, Colby College became the first all-make college to admit females; it remains among the most selective schools in the country today. In 1937, construction of the 700+ acre Mayflower Hill campus began in Waterville, a small rural town near the southern coast of Maine. The buildings, while differing in age, maintain a common Georgian Revival style of architecture. This includes the Colby College Museum of Art which attracts visitors from a wide area and is used as a teaching resource. Colby College graduates include eight Pulitzer Prize winning authors and seven state Governors.

Academic Programs

Colby College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education and offers Bachelor’s Degrees in 54 majors over 37 departments. The largest programs are Social Sciences (Economics) and Biology. Currently there are no online degree programs available. Colby is notable for the fact that nearly 70 percent of students study off campus for a time, choosing from over 200 programs in 60 countries. Their academic mission states “Co-curricular and campus life programs optimize learning opportunities and help students develop leadership and communication skills. Members of the Colby community come from a range of backgrounds and offer diverse perspectives. Every member of the community has different experiences to share, enriching classroom and dining hall discussions. Our liberal arts curriculum, combined with many other facets of the Colby experience, prepares students for postgraduate success in nearly every field imaginable. Students graduate with the skills and experience that employers and grad schools desire.”

Student Life

The 1,800 member student body members reside in a variety of co-ed residence halls and have many on-campus activities to fill their time. Additionally, Colby College fields teams in 16 sports and participates in NCAA Division III competition. The mascot, the Colby White Mule, dons the official school colors of ‘Colby Blue and Priscilla Grey’. Non-varsity athletes compete in one or more of the 11 club sports or participate in the robust Intramural team structure. Colby is proud of its Core Values and every student is taught under these guidelines: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY – Intellectual integrity is a fundamental value of all academic institutions and is at the heart of the primary teaching, learning, and research activities of the College; DIVERSITY – Colby is dedicated to the education of humane, thoughtful, and engaged persons prepared to respond to the challenges of an increasingly diverse and global society and to the issues of justice that arise therein; SUSTAINABILITY and CONSERVATION – Colby is committed to nurturing environmental awareness through its academic program as well as through its activities on campus and beyond. As a local and global environmental citizen, the College adheres to the core values of respect for the environment and sustainable living.

Ready to start your journey?

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.

Ready to start your journey?

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.