Harvard vs. Colgate

Deciding between Harvard University and Colgate University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
Colgate University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Colgate #30
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Colgate -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Colgate

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Colgate $58,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Colgate 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Colgate 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Colgate 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Colgate A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Colgate Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Colgate 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Colgate 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Colgate 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Colgate $166

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Colgate 43%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Colgate 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Colgate Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Colgate No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Colgate 67%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Colgate 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Colgate 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Colgate 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Colgate 66%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Colgate Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Colgate Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Colgate Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Colgate No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Colgate No

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Colgate University in Hamilton, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Colgate University is in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Colgate University 9:1.

Harvard vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Colgate? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Colgate ($17,525 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 16.9% lower than at Harvard University ($17,610 vs. $21,190).
  • Colgate University is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $8,630 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at Colgate than at Harvard University (about $8,630 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Colgate University (56% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 16.6% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($68,015 vs. $58,334).

Harvard vs. Colgate Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Colgate? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Colgate and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 60 points higher than at Colgate (1490).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at Colgate).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Colgate University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Colgate University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Colgate - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 28.7% at Colgate.

Harvard vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Colgate? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Colgate University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $61,400 more per year than Colgate graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $75,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $9,625 lower median loan debt than Colgate graduates ($6,500 vs. $16,125).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colgate graduates ($67 vs. $166).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.