Colby College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Colby College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 9.6%. Located in Waterville, Maine, Colby frequently ranks among the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the country. The 714-acre campus includes a 128-acre arboretum. Students have 56 majors and 35 minors from which to choose, and the college boasts of a 10-to-1 student faculty/ratio. The college has a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society, and wins high marks for its environmental initiatives and emphasis on study abroad, with over 70% of students participating. The alpine and Nordic ski teams at Colby compete in Division I, all other teams compete in Division III athletics. Other popular sports include football, squash, track and field, basketball, and cross country.

Considering applying to this highly selective school? Here are the Colby College admissions statistics you should know.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Colby College had an acceptance rate of 9.6%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 9 students were admitted, making Colby's admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Colby College has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Colby may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 56% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2017-18 admissions cycle, most of Colby's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Colby College scored between 670 and 740, while 25% scored below 670 and 25% scored above 740. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 680 and 770, while 25% scored below 680 and 25% scored above 770. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1510 or higher is competitive for Colby.

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Requirements

Colby College does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Colby participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Colby does not require the essay section of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Colby has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 49% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2017-18 admissions cycle, most of Colby's admitted students fall within the top 5% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Colby received a composite ACT score between 31 and 33, while 25% scored above 33 and 25% scored below 31.

Requirements

Note that Colby College does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, Colby participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Colby does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

Colby College does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Colby College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Colby College has a highly competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average SAT/ACT scores. However, Colby has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Colby's range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. Most successful applicants had GPAs in the "A" range, combined SAT scores of 1300 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 28 or better.

If You Like Colby College, You May Also Like These Schools

• Bowdoin College
• Brandeis University
• Wesleyan University
• Haverford College
• Swarthmore College
• Brown University
• Flagler College

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Colby College Undergraduate Admissions Office.