Solid graduate outcomes with earnings above the peer average.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Colby College graduates demonstrate steady earnings progression over time, with median income rising from $60,052 six years after enrollment to $68,015 at eight years and reaching $80,490 at ten years. This represents 34% growth from the six-year to ten-year marks, indicating consistent career advancement and skill development beyond the initial post-graduation period.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Strong relative performance — graduates earn notably more than peers at comparable institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $19,157 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Colby College graduates carry median debt of $19,157, falling $5,024 below the peer median of $24,181 and ranking at the 74th percentile for manageable debt levels. Student debt ranges from $8,790 at the 25th percentile to $27,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating most graduates avoid excessive borrowing despite the high cost of attendance.
Colby College achieves well above average return performance, ranking at the 85.4th percentile nationally with strong long-term earnings outcomes relative to educational investment. Graduates earn $80,490 ten years after enrollment, significantly exceeding the peer median of $63,066 by $17,424 annually.
Approximately 19% of Colby graduates continue to graduate or professional study, though this estimate carries low confidence due to methodology limita...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Applied Economics drives Colby's strongest earnings outcomes with graduates earning $102,153, ranking #17 nationally and representing over 20% of the graduating class with 69 students. International/Globalization Studies produces graduates earning $62,539 with just 41 students but ranking #5 nationally, indicating specialized excellence in this interdisciplinary field.
Psychology and American Government graduates earn $51,623 and $47,118 respectively, reflecting more typical liberal arts career trajectories with moderate initial earnings. Environmental Science, despite graduating 62 students and ranking #35 nationally, produces earnings of $44,699 reflecting public service and non-profit career paths.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation across career paths, with the 25th to 75th percentile spread ranging from $58,383 to $134,924, representing a 2.3:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles. This distribution reflects the diverse career trajectories typical of liberal arts graduates, from public service and non-profit roles to business and finance careers.
