Colby College vs. Whitman College

Should I go to Colby College or Whitman College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College or Whitman College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury Tufts Vassar Lewis and Clark Reed BC Bowdoin College Gonzaga Bates Williams
Colby College vs. Whitman College comparison
Colby College Whitman College College 3 College 4
Colby College Whitman College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Colby College Whitman College
Location Waterville, ME Walla Walla, WA
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,299 1,493
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #84
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu whitman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Whitman College
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $58,200
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $58,200
Room & Board $16,330 $14,220
Avg Net Price $16,951 $39,935
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $32,047
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 94%

Admission

Colby College Whitman College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 5,497
Admitted 1,286 2,622
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 47.7%
Enrolled % 52.3% 12.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 32/34 30/33
SAT Range 1430/1540 1293/1473
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Colby College Whitman College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Colby College Whitman College
Graduation Rate 91% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 93%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $180

Diversity

Colby College Whitman College
% Men 48% 44%
% Women 52% 56%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 72%
% Black 3% 1%
% Hispanic 6% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 11% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

Colby College Whitman College
% In-State 7% 27%
% Out-of-State 79% 59%

Campus

Colby College Whitman College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colby College is larger than than Whitman College based on total student enrollment (2,299 students vs. 1,493 students)

Colby College vs. Whitman College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Whitman College?

  • Colby College is 4.5% more expensive to attend than Whitman College for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $58,200.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.5% higher at Colby College than Whitman College ($60,840.00 vs. $58,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Whitman College ($16,951 vs. $39,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whitman College are 14.8% lower than costs at Colby College ($14,220 vs. $16,330)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Whitman College than Colby College (94% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 92.6% larger than aid received Whitman College ($61,714 vs. $32,047)

Colby College vs. Whitman College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or Whitman College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Whitman College or Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 49 points higher than at Whitman College (1314)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Whitman College (30)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Whitman College (3.68)
  • Whitman College has a higher acceptance rate (47.7%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Colby College vs. Whitman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or Whitman College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Whitman College and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Whitman College (91% vs. 86%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $16,500 more per year than Whitman College graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $56,900)
  • Whitman College students graduate with a $1,845 lower median federal student loan debt than Colby College graduates. ($17,500 vs. $19,345)
  • Whitman College graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Colby College graduates. ($180 vs. $200)
  • More Whitman College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby College students, three years after graduation. (93% vs. 88%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/