Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Colgate University #409 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,917, placing Colgate University in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Economics #17 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment — a program-level anchor within Colgate University's social-sciences-led degree portfolio. Colgate University's composite ranking reflects strong graduate earnings relative to cost, with median 4-year earnings placing the university well above most nonprofit four-year institutions on the financial return dimension. The Economics program's national standing illustrates how Colgate University's highest-return programs deliver earnings outcomes that compare favorably with those at far larger institutions.
Azimuth ranks Colgate University #409 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University enrolls roughly 3,180 undergraduates. Retention stands at 93.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 91.2%, placing the institution among the stronger performers nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Colgate University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Colgate University #160 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $77,917, well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions, reflecting the strong labor-market positioning of a Social Sciences-anchored curriculum paired with a highly credentialed graduate cohort. Economics is a standout, with graduates earning $128,887 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks Economics #160 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, at 1.56× the national benchmark for that field. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Colgate University admits about 13.9% 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 (12.5% Pell, 18.1% first-generation). Affordability sits in the 27.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a high sticker price that is meaningfully reshaped by need-based aid for families that qualify. Access sits in the 58.8 percentile and mobility in the 56.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, both constrained by the institution's selective admissions posture and the comparatively small share of Pell-eligible students it enrolls.
Colgate University's published cost of attendance is $87,070. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $6,086, middle-income families pay around $13,617, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,234. Azimuth ranks Colgate University #1028 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. Colgate University meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. The aid structure is need-based, with no merit component; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Institutional aid covers a substantial portion of cost for most students, and work-study is available as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $59,463; 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 $77,917, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Colgate University is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, humanities, and liberal arts who want a small private residential college experience in upstate NY — particularly those whose post-graduation ambitions lean toward finance, consulting, law, or graduate study, fields where Colgate's alumni network and academic preparation tend to matter most. Graduates earn in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Azimuth ranks Colgate University #160 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures reflect a program mix concentrated in Social Sciences and related analytical fields, where strong early-career earnings are common for graduates who move into competitive professional roles. The aid structure matters here. With 12.5% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 18.1% identifying as first-generation, Colgate serves a smaller share of lower-income students than many peer institutions — and higher-income families face a net price of $48,234, which is meaningful context for families weighing cost. Median student debt at graduation is $15,000, and Colgate University sits in the 92.5 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: admission to Colgate University is highly selective, admitting roughly 13.9% of applicants, and the program portfolio is oriented toward research and analytical disciplines rather than applied-professional fields. Students whose academic interests align with Social Sciences and who can navigate the competitive application process will find the earnings trajectory and institutional profile among the stronger options in the nonprofit four-year institutions set.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Colgate University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer Science
49 graduates
Economics
143 graduates
Political Science and Government
87 graduates
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
26 graduates
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
19 graduates
Colgate University's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, a signature consistent with the university's liberal arts identity and its emphasis on analytical, policy, and quantitative reasoning. Social Sciences accounts for 35% of graduates, followed by Arts at 5% and other STEM fields at 5%.
Economics anchors the institution's economic profile, combining meaningful cohort scale with strong median earnings four years after enrollment. Among the most popular programs by graduate volume, Economics program graduates 143 students annually, with median earnings of $128,887 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks Economics #17 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Political Science program graduates 87 students with median earnings of $83,188, and Azimuth ranks it #33 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Computer Science and International Relations and National Security Studies round out the high-volume tier, with Azimuth ranking Computer Science #22 and International Relations and National Security Studies #20 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The highest-earning programs at Colgate University reflect both direct-to-workforce and graduate-school-dependent pathways. Computer Science leads on median earnings four years after enrollment at $161,980, and Azimuth ranks it #22 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions; Economics follows at $128,887, ranked #17 for median earnings four years after enrollment.
Azimuth ranks Political Science #33 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national hiring trends.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Union College Higher acceptance rate (31.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 81 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 44% | $88,604 | Compare |
Binghamton University Higher acceptance rate (25.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 55 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 38% | $80,596 | Compare |
Siena College Higher acceptance rate (58.6 percentage points higher) and located 91 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 71% | $76,079 | Compare |
University Of Rochester Higher acceptance rate (23.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 36% | $79,042 | Compare |
Trinity College Higher acceptance rate (21.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CT | 34% | $90,779 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of St Thomas Similar quality tier (#15162 ranked) | TX | 90% | $59,224 | #15162 | Compare |
Amherst College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15138 ranked) | MA | 9% | $77,644 | #15138 | Compare |
Stevens Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15127 ranked) | NJ | 48% | $108,772 | #15127 | Compare |
Seton Hall University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15123 ranked) | NJ | 73% | $70,196 | #15123 | Compare |
Saint Peter's University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15199 ranked) | NJ | 90% | $57,815 | #15199 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Colgate University's published cost of attendance is $87,070. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $6,086, middle-income families pay around $13,617, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,234.
Azimuth ranks Colgate University #1028 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.
Colgate University meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. The aid structure is need-based, with no merit component; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
Institutional aid covers a substantial portion of cost for most students, and work-study is available as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $59,463; 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 $77,917, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 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 Colgate University earn median 4-year earnings of $77,917, placing the institution in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,275 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Azimuth ranks Colgate University #160 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 89.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Colgate University's concentration in Social Sciences, which represents 35% of graduates. Economics is the highest-earning program with 143 graduates earning median earnings of $128,887 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #16 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Azimuth ranks Political Science and Government #29 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 87 graduates earning $83,188, while Computer Science ranks #20 nationally with earnings of $161,980.
