Colgate vs. Penn

Colgate University and University of Pennsylvania side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Colgate University
University of Pennsylvania

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn (5.4% admitted vs 13.9%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1490.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn. Average net price is $23,570 vs $28,736 at Colgate.
  • Graduation: Colgate 92% vs Penn 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colgate $75,300 vs Penn $123,600 (median).
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Key differences

Colgate University University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate
Penn more selective
Colgate13.9%
Penn5.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn higher
Colgate1430-1540
Penn1510-1570
Average net price
Penn $5,166 less
Colgate$28,736
Penn$23,570
In-state tuition
Penn $1,620 less
Colgate$70,306
Penn$68,686
Out-of-state tuition
Penn $1,620 less
Colgate$70,306
Penn$68,686
Graduation rate
Penn +4 pts
Colgate92%
Penn96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn +$48,300
Colgate$75,300
Penn$123,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Penn 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Penn A
  • Admissions standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Penn Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Colgate 1430-1540
  • Penn 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • Colgate 33-34
  • Penn 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average net price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average grant aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Penn $65,458
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Penn 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median loan payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Penn $213
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Penn #23

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 3,211 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 8.2% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($17,610 vs. $19,174).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Colgate than at University of Pennsylvania (about $1,620 more per year; $70,306 vs. $68,686).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pennsylvania than at Colgate University (51% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 12.2% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($65,458 vs. $58,334).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Penn than at Colgate (35 vs. 33, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Colgate, required at Penn.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Penn average a 3.95 high school GPA, 0.18 higher than at Colgate (3.77).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 68% at Penn.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $4,508 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($16,125 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($166 vs. $213).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 84%).

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

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