Colby College vs. Amherst

Colby College and Amherst College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Colby College
Amherst College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Colby College (7.1% admitted vs 9%). Typical SAT 1510 vs 1540.
  • Cheaper after aid: Colby College. Average net price is $16,219 vs $19,049 at Amherst.
  • Graduation: Colby College 91% vs Amherst 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colby College $73,400 vs Amherst $82,000 (median).
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Key differences

Colby College Amherst College
Acceptance rate
Colby College more selective
Colby College7.1%
Amherst9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Colby College1460-1550
Amherst1490-1580
Average net price
Colby College $2,830 less
Colby College$16,219
Amherst$19,049
In-state tuition
Colby College $880 less
Colby College$69,600
Amherst$70,480
Out-of-state tuition
Colby College $880 less
Colby College$69,600
Amherst$70,480
Graduation rate
Amherst +5 pts
Colby College91%
Amherst96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Amherst +$8,600
Colby College$73,400
Amherst$82,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Colby College 19,187
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Admitted
  • Colby College 1,360
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colby College 7.1%
  • Amherst 9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colby College 46.2%
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colby College 1510
  • Amherst 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colby College 33
  • Amherst 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colby College 3.86
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colby College A
  • Amherst A
  • Admissions standards
  • Colby College Elite
  • Amherst Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Colby College Extreme
  • Amherst Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Colby College 1460-1550
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • ACT range
  • Colby College 32-34
  • Amherst 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Colby College Test optional
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Colby College Jan 1, 2027
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colby College $69,600
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colby College $69,600
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Room & board
  • Colby College $17,890
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Average net price
  • Colby College $16,219
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Average grant aid
  • Colby College $69,201
  • Amherst $68,591
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colby College 45%
  • Amherst 59%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colby College 91%
  • Amherst 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colby College $73,400
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colby College 88%
  • Amherst 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colby College $19,345
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Median loan payment
  • Colby College $200
  • Amherst $134
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colby College 9:1
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colby College
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Location
  • Colby College Waterville, ME
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • Colby College Remote Town
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Colby College 2,412
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Type
  • Colby College Private 4 Year
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colby College #39
  • Amherst #13

Comparable Facts

Compare Colby College in Waterville, ME with Amherst College in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Colby College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (2,412 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colby College is located in Waterville, ME (Remote Town setting); Amherst College is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • Colby College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby College 9:1; Amherst College 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 2.7% lower than at Amherst College ($17,890 vs. $18,390).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Amherst than at Colby College (about $880 more per year; $70,480 vs. $69,600).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Colby College (59% vs. 45%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Amherst College students ($69,201 vs. $68,591).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Amherst than at Colby College (34 vs. 33, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colby College and Amherst.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colby College Jan 1, 2027; Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Amherst average a 3.91 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Colby College (3.86).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.2% at Colby College vs. 38.8% at Amherst.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $6,370 lower median loan debt than Colby College graduates ($12,975 vs. $19,345).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colby College graduates ($134 vs. $200).
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation (88% vs. 83%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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