Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Colby College #271 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,429, placing Colby College in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Political Science #3 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for return on investment — a program-level anchor within Colby College's social-sciences-led academic profile, where graduates in Political Science earn median 4-year earnings of $96,621. Students at Colby College achieve earnings outcomes that place the college well above most nonprofit four-year institutions on Azimuth's composite, anchored by strong median earnings and a high-return program in its dominant social sciences concentration. The college's composite standing reflects a combination of solid graduate earnings and program-level strength, making it a competitive option among liberal arts-focused nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Colby College #271 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Waterville, ME, Colby College enrolls roughly 2,407 undergraduates. Retention stands at 93.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 88.8%, reflecting strong degree-completion performance relative to most institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Where Colby College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Colby College #152 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,429, a figure that reflects the institution's concentration in Social Sciences and related fields that carry strong labor-market demand. Political Science and Economics are among the programs that deliver the strongest earnings relative to national benchmarks for their fields, with graduates from those programs earning $96,621 and $103,491 respectively four years after enrollment. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Colby College admits about 7.1% of applicants — a selectivity level that, by design, limits the size of each entering class and the number of low-income students the institution enrolls (14.3% Pell, 10.9% first-generation). Affordability sits in the 54.0 percentile and access in the 64.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a high sticker price that is materially reshaped by need-based aid for families that qualify. Mobility sits in the 61.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, a figure shaped in part by the relatively small share of low-income students the institution enrolls.
Colby College's published cost of attendance is $85,420. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $4,049, middle-income families pay around $3,666, and higher-income families pay approximately $46,511. Azimuth ranks Colby College #656 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Colby College meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through need-based aid packages that combine grants, loans, and work-study. The college uses the FAFSA and CSS Profile to assess need and constructs aid packages without merit components. Families should review the college's financial aid website for current policies and to understand how aid packages are structured across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,157, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $59,570; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,429, median federal debt of $19,157 projects to a monthly payment of about $216 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Colby College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, humanities, and related analytical fields who want a residential liberal arts experience in ME and are prepared to navigate a highly selective admissions process. Graduates earn in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Azimuth ranks Colby College #152 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — placing it in the 89.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. Colby College enrolls 14.3% of undergraduates who receive Pell Grants and 10.9% who are first-generation students — a comparatively small share relative to broad-access institutions, which reflects the school's selective profile rather than a lack of commitment to need-based aid. Higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $46,511, and median student debt at graduation is $19,157. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Colby College admits approximately 7.1% of applicants, making it among the more competitive colleges in the Azimuth coverage set, and its program mix is concentrated in Social Sciences and related fields — students whose academic interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes and the clearest path to the earnings trajectory the data reflects.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Colby College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Economics
89 graduates
Political Science and Government
76 graduates
Area Studies
14 graduates
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
52 graduates
Anthropology
12 graduates
Colby College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, a signature consistent with its liberal-arts identity in Waterville, Maine. Economics is the largest program, followed by Political Science, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Computer Science, and International/Globalization Studies.
Across 4 ranked programs serving roughly 717 graduates annually, the institution's programs combine strong cohort scale with competitive early-career earnings. The strongest rankings cluster in policy- and government-oriented fields.
Azimuth ranks Economics #42 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $103,491. Azimuth ranks Political Science #3 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $96,621.
Azimuth ranks Natural Resources Conservation and Research #30 for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $55,719. The program-mix signature — led by Social Sciences (26% of graduates), other STEM fields (6%), and Arts (4%) — reflects a liberal-arts portfolio oriented toward analytical, policy, and quantitative fields.
Several of the highest-earning programs, including Economics and Political Science, are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount longer-term trajectory for graduates who continue to law, policy, or doctoral study.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Maine Maritime Academy Higher acceptance rate (54.6 percentage points higher) and located 44 miles away; similar graduate earnings | ME | 61% | $89,964 | Compare |
Binghamton University Higher acceptance rate (30.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 38% | $80,596 | Compare |
University Of Rochester Higher acceptance rate (29 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 36% | $79,042 | Compare |
Bowdoin College Same state (48 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | ME | 8% | $82,735 | Compare |
Bates College Same state (41 miles away) (earnings difference: 13.7%) and similar program focus; same institution type | ME | 13% | $69,498 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Detroit Mercy Similar quality tier (#10774 ranked) | MI | 75% | $71,030 | #10774 | Compare |
Bucknell University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10796 ranked) | PA | 29% | $93,807 | #10796 | Compare |
Adelphi University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10797 ranked) | NY | 66% | $75,482 | #10797 | Compare |
Gallaudet University Similar quality tier (#10801 ranked) | DC | 58% | $43,101 | #10801 | Compare |
Mercy University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10802 ranked) | NY | 86% | $52,055 | #10802 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Colby College's published cost of attendance is $85,420. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $4,049, middle-income families pay around $3,666, and higher-income families pay approximately $46,511.
Azimuth ranks Colby College #656 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Colby College meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through need-based aid packages that combine grants, loans, and work-study. The college uses the FAFSA and CSS Profile to assess need and constructs aid packages without merit components.
Families should review the college's financial aid website for current policies and to understand how aid packages are structured across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,157, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $59,570; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,429, median federal debt of $19,157 projects to a monthly payment of about $216 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Colby College earn median 4-year earnings of $77,429, placing the institution in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Colby College #152 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 89.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Colby College's strong liberal arts foundation, with Social Sciences representing 26% of graduates. Azimuth ranks Economics #42 among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 89 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $103,491. Azimuth ranks Political Science and Government #4 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 76 graduates earning $96,621, while Natural Resources Conservation and Research ranks #35 nationally with earnings of $55,719.
