CollegeScout
Private

Colby College

Waterville, Maine
Visit website
Admit Rate
7%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)Ultra-Selective
Cost of Attendance
$85,420
per year, before aid
Test Policy
SAT/ACT optional‡ (source: Colby College admission · 2026-27 · accessed Oct 20, 2026)

Data sourced from Common Data Set (Institutional), IPEDS, Institutional Website, for the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page. Testing policy checked against the college's own pages on Oct 20, 2026.

Preparation

Helpful high school preparation
4 years English4 years math3-4 years lab science3-4 years social studies3-4 years foreign language

This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.

Admissions

How admission works here

Where you apply
The Common App. Common App requirements grid
Test scores
Submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. Colby College admission
Essays
The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
Recommendations
2 teacher recommendations, a counselor recommendation. Common App requirements grid
Application fee
$0. Common App requirements grid
Deadlines
Early Decision (binding) November 15, Early Decision II (binding) January 4, Regular Decision January 4. Common App requirements grid
Overall
7%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.

Mid-50% SAT
1460-1550
SAT/ACT optional
Top 10 majors
  1. 1Quantitative Economics
  2. 2Psychology
  3. 3Political Science
  4. 4Computer Science
  5. 5Environmental Science
  6. 6Biology
  7. 7Neuroscience
  8. 8Mathematics
  9. 9International Studies
  10. 10Chemistry

Ordered by how many students graduated in each, 2023-24. Source: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS Completions survey). Names are the federal categories, so Colby College may call a major something slightly different.

Applying

Application Deadlines† (source: Common App requirements grid · 2026-27)
Early Decision
November 15 · Binding
Early Decision II
January 4 · Binding
Regular Decision
January 4 · Non-binding

Applying through the Common App

Application fee
$0
Common App personal essay
Required
Recommendations
2 teacher recommendations, counselor recommendation

Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.

Essay details are being verified

College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.

View official application requirements

Music & Sports Tracks

Sports

NCAA Division III
Varsity sports (18)
BaseballBasketballCross countryField hockeyFootballGolfIce hockeyIndoor track and fieldLacrosseOutdoor track and fieldRowingSkiingSoccerSoftballSquashSwimming and divingTennisVolleyball
U.S. Department of Education, Equity in Athletics data (2024-25)
How music and sports fit into an application

Academics

Flagship Programs

Economics (Econometrics & Quantitative Economics)Government / Political ScienceEnvironmental Studies

Career & Major Pathways

Primary Disciplines
EconomicsGovernmentComputer Science
Interdisciplinary Pathways
Colby-Bates-Bowdoin (CBB) shared study-abroad and cooperative programs among Maine's three elite LACs

Cost

Cost of attendance, per year
$85,420* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.

Tuition only (part of the cost above)
Tuition $69,600* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

Financial Aid

What families actually paid, by household income

Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.

Under $30,000
$4,049
$30,001 – $48,000
$1,251
$48,001 – $75,000
$3,666
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,106
Over $110,000
$46,511

College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024

Estimate what your family would pay

Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.

Scholarships and merit aid

Colby is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated need; it does not offer academic merit scholarships.

Campus

Campus Fit

Location
Waterville, Maine· Rural
Undergraduates
2,412
Setting
Rural
In a fraternity or sorority
0% of students
Living on campus
Not publicly reported

*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024

†Common App requirements grid · 2026-27

‡Colby College admission · 2026-27 · accessed Oct 20, 2026

Suggest a correction for this page