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Summary
Hamilton College is a private institution that was founded in 1812. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,861, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 1,300 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Hamilton College's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 17. Its tuition and fees are $42,640 (2011-12).
Hamilton College is located in Clinton, N.Y., 45 minutes east of Syracuse and 90 minutes west of Albany. The college offers a wide variety of unique student clubs on campus, from the cooking club Love ’n Spoonful to the comedy troupe Urban Outwitters. Hamilton also has an active Greek life, with 18 fraternities and sororities on campus. The school fields NCAA Division III varsity sports teams and is a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. All underclassmen are required to live on campus, and about 98 percent of students live in the 27 residence halls.
Hamilton is the third-oldest college in New York and was named after its former board of trustee and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton College was originally a men’s college until 1978 when it became coeducational after uniting with its sister institution, Kirkland College. Nearly half of students study abroad during their time at Hamilton through 180 programs around the world or the school’s consortium programs in Spain, India, France, and China, as well as U.S. locations in New York, Boston, and Washington. Annual traditions on campus include FebFest, a winter carnival; and May Day, a spring outdoor concert festival. Notable alumni include poet Ezra Pound, actor and writer for The Office Paul Lieberstein, and psychologist B.F. Skinner.
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Students come to Hamilton to find their voice. As a national leader in teaching students to write effectively, learn from each other and think for themselves, Hamilton produces graduates who have the knowledge, skills and confidence to make their voices heard on issues of importance to them and their communities. A key component of the Hamilton experience is the College's open curriculum. In place of distribution requirements that are common at most colleges, Hamilton gives its students freedom to choose the courses that reflect their unique interests. Faculty advisors assist students in planning a coherent and highly individualized academic program - in fact, close student-faculty relationships are a distinguishing characteristic of the College - but ultimately students at Hamilton take responsibility for their own future. Part of that future includes a lifelong relationship with the College. Hamilton alumni are exceptionally loyal and passionate supporters of their alma mater and the students and faculty who live and work on College Hill. That support manifests itself through internships, speaking engagements on campus, job-shadowing opportunities and financial donations. Due to the extraordinary generosity of alumni, Hamilton is one of fewer than 50 colleges and universities in the U.S. that are need-blind in admission and that meet the full demonstrated need of every student they accept. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1812 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | rural |
| 2010 Endowment | $607,490,000 |
Applying
When applying to Hamilton College, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at Hamilton College 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 2010 acceptance rate | 29% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | February 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Hamilton College is 9:1, and the school has 73.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Hamilton College include: Economics, General; Psychology, General; Political Science and Government, General; Mathematics, General; and International Relations and Affairs. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 95.0 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 9:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 84% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Hamilton College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,861, with a gender distribution of 46.5 percent male students and 53.5 percent female students. 98.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 2.0 percent of students live off campus. Hamilton College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Hamilton College.
| Total enrollment | 1,861 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Hamilton College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Hamilton College 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 Hamilton College, 34 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Hamilton College.
| Students who have cars on campus | 34% - Low |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Hamilton College, 42.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $33,381.
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 | $42,640 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $10,830 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
