Colgate University

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

U.S. News rank Category Name #18 National Liberal Arts Colleges

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Summary

Colgate University is a private institution that was founded in 1819. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,947, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 553 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Colgate University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 18. Its tuition and fees are $44,640 (2012-13).

Colgate University is located in Hamilton, N.Y., a small town with a population about equal to the size of the student body. Colgate’s Outdoor Education Program offers a number of outdoor opportunities, and students can also join any of the other religious, service, special interest, or student government clubs. Greek life plays a significant role in student life, representing nearly half of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Students are required to live on campus—which includes Greek houses and university apartments—for their first three years. The Colgate Raiders compete in the NCAA Division I Patriot League and are known for their rivalry with the Cornell University Big Red. Colgate’s Seven Oaks Golf Course is ranked among the top five college courses in the country by Golf Digest.

Colgate’s academic departments and majors fall into one of four general divisions: humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, social sciences, and university studies. Colgate has more than 20 off-campus study programs led by Colgate faculty, and the university also gives credit for programs offered by other universities. Arts programs include studies in theater, visual arts, film and media studies, and music. The number 13 is lucky for Colgate: It is said that the school was founded by 13 men with "13 dollars, 13 prayers, and 13 articles."

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

Colgate University is a highly selective liberal arts institution distinguished by the dedication of its 275 full-time faculty-scholars, and its commitment to the interdisciplinary liberal arts, undergraduate research, off-campus study programs, Division I athletics, sustainable practices, and residential education. With small classes and heavy emphasis on close faculty-student interaction, Colgate's purpose is to develop wise, thoughtful, critical thinkers and perceptive leaders through residence in a community that values all forms of intellectual rigor. Colgate offers 51 majors to a diverse student body of 2,900 undergraduate students whose academic program consists of courses in the liberal arts core curriculum, courses in the field of major, electives, and physical education classes. Ninety-eight percent of the university's full-time faculty have achieved the highest degree in their fields, typically the PhD. Students are drawn to Colgate because of the many opportunities to pursue research with faculty members, either as part of their academic-year experience or through summer programs. It is not unusual for a Colgate undergraduate to have co-authored a peer-reviewed journal article prior to graduation. In addition, more than two-thirds of students participate in one of Colgate's more than 20 faculty-led off-campus study programs (or affiliated programs), and/or extended study programs connected to particular courses. The student body is nearly evenly split between men and women and twenty-five percent self-identify as coming from a multi-cultural background. Student life outside of academics at Colgate includes a wide variety of service-learning opportunities, club sports, an active creative and performing arts community, and housing that includes fraternities, sororities, town houses, apartments, and other residential settings. This is a particularly exciting time at Colgate. Under the leadership of President Jeffrey Herbst, the university exceeded, 18 months ahead of schedule, its historic $400-million campaign goal, and immediately set out to raise another $40 million for financial aid. Three major capital projects, totaling almost 200,000 square feet, have brought the campaign's most visible changes to campus - the new Robert H.N. Ho Science Center, the renovated and transformed Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology Center, and the new Trudy Fitness Center. These resources, as well as the participation of 47 percent of alumni in Colgate's annual fund, position the university near the top of the nation's elite liberal arts institutions and assure future steps toward stronger research, more effective use of technology, expanded global studies, and an increased capacity to offer financial aid.

General Information

School type	private, coed college
Year founded	1819
Religious affiliation	N/A
Academic calendar	semester
Setting	rural
2011 Endowment	$700,993,881

Applying

When applying to Colgate University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at Colgate University is $60. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 29.4 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity	most selective
Fall 2011 acceptance rate	29.4%
Application deadline	January 15
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	January 15

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Colgate University is 9:1, and the school has 64.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Colgate University include: English Language and Literature, General; Political Science and Government, General; Economics, General; History, General; and Sociology and Anthropology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 94.2 percent.

Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio	9:1
4-year graduation rate	88
Five most popular majors for 2011 graduates
English Language and Literature, General 13% Political Science and Government, General 13% Economics, General 10% History, General 8% Sociology and Anthropology 6%

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Student Life

Colgate University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,947, with a gender distribution of 47.2 percent male students and 52.8 percent female students. At this school, 9.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 17.0 percent of students live off campus. Colgate University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

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Total enrollment	2,964
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

Colgate University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Colgate University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Colgate University, 47 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Colgate University.

Students who have cars on campus	47%
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At Colgate University, 35.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $36,192.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$44,640 (2012-13)
Room and board	$11,075 (2012-13)
Financial aid statistics

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* Overview details based on 2011 data