Colgate University acceptance rate & admissions

Colgate University admits 14% of applicants, about 1 in 7. For Fall 2023, 2,526 of 21,130 applicants were admitted and 807 enrolled. The school considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional). The middle half of Fall 2024 enrolled first-year students scored 1430–1540 on the SAT or 33–34 on the ACT.

Check your chances at Colgate University → Compare your GPA and scores with these ranges, and with other colleges.

Acceptance rate
14%

More selective than 95% of New York colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class

Test scores
Considered, not required

21% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 18% sent ACT scores.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Admitted students who enroll
32%

Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Colgate University over other offers.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Applicants, admits and enrollment

Applied21,130
Admitted2,526
Enrolled807

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.

Colgate University SAT and ACT scores

Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Colgate University is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.

Test25th percentile75th percentile
SAT reading & writing710760
SAT math720780
ACT composite3334
SAT total (approx.)14301540

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.

Colgate University admissions year over year

Entering classAcceptanceSAT readingSAT mathACTSource
Fall 202414%710–760720–78033–34College Scorecard
Fall 202312%710–750720–78033–34IPEDS

Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.

How selective is Colgate University compared with other New York colleges?

Colgate University has the 8th-lowest acceptance rate of 140 New York colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAcceptanceGraduationAvg. net price
4The Juilliard School9%93%$43,571
5New York University9%88%$37,050
6United States Military Academy12%87%—
7Hamilton College14%91%$28,985
8Colgate University14%91%$28,786
9Webb Institute14%88%$73,043
10Helene Fuld College of Nursing17%—$47,181
11Vassar College19%91%$39,343
12The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art21%81%$13,269

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All New York colleges →

Who enrolls at Colgate University

First-year students who return for year two93%
First-year students from New York22%
Pell Grant recipients13%
First-generation students18%
Women / men57% / 43%
International students8%

College Scorecard; IPEDS

Colgate University admissions questions

What is the Colgate University acceptance rate?

Colgate University accepts 14% of applicants, about 1 in 7. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 2,526 of 21,130 applicants were admitted.

Does Colgate University require the SAT or ACT?

Colgate University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 21% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 18% submitted ACT scores.

What SAT score do you need for Colgate University?

The middle 50% of Colgate University enrolled first-year students scored 1430–1540 on the SAT and 33–34 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.

How many admitted students enroll at Colgate University?

32% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (807 of 2,526).

Is Colgate University getting harder to get into?

Colgate University accepted 14% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 12% for Fall 2023.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Colgate University overview