Colgate University Acceptance Rate and How to Get in Easily

Colgate is a leading university in liberal arts education, hence the need to know the Colgate acceptance rate and how to get in easily

As a distinctive, leading American university, Colgate university is widely known for its world-class professors, intellectual rigor, a campus of stunning beauty, and alumni popularly loyal to their alma mater.

The university’s mission is to provide a rigorous, expansive, educational experience to an accepted group of diverse, and intellectually talented students who are capable of challenging themselves, their peers, and teachers in a setting that brings together living and learning.

By challenging young men and women to fulfill their potential while being part of a community that values intellectual rigor and respects human understanding and its complexity, the university aims to develop thoughtful, critical thinkers and perceptive leaders.

If you are a student of talent preparing for a life of leadership and productive citizenship, then Colgate is where you need to be. The Colgate faculty comprises scholars dedicated to teaching in the classroom, the laboratory, the studio, and the library. Colgate’s first responsibility. Their teaching approach inculcates knowledge and also transforms and extends the knowledge through a demanding, imaginative curriculum. 

Faculty scholarships are also available to complement teaching as it advances knowledge. The classroom setting maintains an ideal size whereby students can work closely with the faculty. Faculty and students’ dialogue creates interesting opportunities for independent work.

Colgate University Acceptance Rate and How to Get in Easily

About Colgate University

Colgate University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1819 in Hamilton, New York. The college was first established as the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York. It operated under that name until 1823 when it was renamed Hamilton Theological and Literary Institution, or Hamilton College (1823–1846). From 1846–to 1890, it was renamed Madison College, before being renamed Colgate University in 1890.

Colgate University is considered a Hidden Ivy and is among the 100 most selective colleges and universities in the United States. It is also known as one of the Little Ivies. In addition, due to the Colgate campus’s singular architectural theme and a hillside location adorned with a lake and trees, the campus is also often ranked as one of the most beautiful campuses in the U.S. 

The university is located in a small town in central New York in Madison County. Colgate presently enrolls about 3,000 students in 56 undergraduate majors that culminate in a Bachelor of Arts degree. The student body is 46% male and 54% female students who participate in over 200 clubs and organizations.  Colgate offers mostly undergraduate programs but still has a small graduate program in Master of Arts in Teaching.

Colgate is part of the Patriot League athletic conference and competes in NCAA Division I sports.

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Colgate University History

In 1817, thirteen men (six clergymen and seven laymen) founded the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York. Two years later, the school was granted a charter by the state, and opened a year later, in 1820. The first classes were held in a town village building. 

In 1823, three years later, the Baptist Theological Seminary in New York City merged with the Baptist Education Society and subsequently changed its name to the Hamilton Literary & Theological Institution. William Colgate, founder of the Colgate Company was among the trustees. 

In 1826, farmland was bought by the school’s trustees. That farmland, later known as ‘The Hill’, became the focal point of the campus. One year later,  the school’s current students and faculty built West Hall, using stone taken from a quarry found on the land. Before being renamed West Hall, it was originally called West Edifice and is the oldest structure on campus. On March 26, 1846, Hamilton’s Collegiate Department was granted a college charter by the State of New York; the two years prior to that, degrees of forty-five Bachelor’s students and at least one Master’s candidate were awarded by George Washington University at the request of Hamilton trustees. George Washington University was a fellow Baptist institution then. In 1846, the school’s name was changed to Madison University. In 1850, the Baptist Education Society’s decision to move the university to Rochester was halted by legal action. 

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The University of Rochester was founded by Dissenting trustees, faculty, and students. In 1849, another group of Baptist dissenters, founded New York Central College while calling for an end to racial and gender discrimination. In 1890, the University’s name was changed to Colgate University in recognition of the family’s gifts to the school. One of William Colgate’s sons, James B. Colgate established a $1 million endowment called the Dodge Memorial Fund. 

In 1912 the Hamilton preparatory school and high school operating since the early 1800s was closed and its facility became Colgate University’s administration building. In 1928, the theological side of Colgate and the Rochester Theological Seminary merged to become the Colgate Rochester Divinity School. As a result, Colgate became non-denominational.

During World War II, Colgate University was among the 131 colleges and universities in the U.S that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program through which students got to join the Navy commission.

From 2022, Colgate plans to be fully tuition-free for undergraduate students from families making $80,000 or less, cost between 5 and 10% of income for families making between $80,000 to $150,000, and who meet 100% of demonstrated needs for students from families making more than $150,000.

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Campus

Colgate University is located in Hamilton Village, Hamilton, New York. The campus itself is situated on 575 acres (2.33 km2) of land and there’s an additional 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of undeveloped forested lands owned by the university. 

The students and faculty used stones from Colgate’s own rock quarry to build Colgate’s first building, West Hall. Almost all the campus buildings are built of stone, and newer buildings are built with modern materials. In 1884, Old Biology Hall was built. In 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1891–1893, Ernest W. Bowditch created the principal campus plan by drawing on earlier recommendations by Frederick Law Olmsted.

Colgate Memorial Chapel is probably the most distinctive building on campus. It was built in 1918 and used for lectures, performances, concerts, and religious services.

A wood boiler that burns wood chips generates most of the campus’s heat. Almost all of Colgate’s electricity comes from a hydroelectric dam at Niagara Falls, and the rest comes from nuclear sources. There’s also a green bikes program on the campus with over two dozen bikes loaned out in an effort to encourage students to rely less on cars. 

Organic rice, beans, and other dry foods are provided by Colgate Dining Services. The Dining services also offer more local food options, and take-out containers made from natural materials. On August 13, Princeton Review gave Colgate a perfect sustainability score as one of only 24 schools (out of 861 evaluated) to make their Green Honor Roll.

Academics

Colgate offers 56 undergraduate majors, all registered officially with the New York State Department of Education. The majors lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree, and there’s a small Master of Arts in a Teaching degree program, which graduates 3–7 students each year.

In addition to regular campus courses, 22 semester-long off-campus study groups are offered by the university each year, including programs in Australia, China, Japan, India, various Western European countries, Washington, D.C., and the National Institutes of Health. About two-thirds of Colgate undergraduates study abroad, which is quite high compared to other colleges and universities in the United States. Approximately 95% of seniors graduate from Colgate University and most alumni proceed to various graduate schools in engineering, law, administration, medicine, the arts and the sciences, and other financial, administrative, or scientific occupations. Colgate University and Hamilton College, another nearby selective liberal arts school,  have a partnership that allows Colgate students to enroll in classes at Hamilton College.

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How to get into Colgate University Easily

Admission Requirements

When it comes to Colgate University’s admission requirements, you should consider a lot of things that shouldn’t be missed in your college application. The important requirement is:

Keep reading to know the admission requirements based on Colgate’s acceptance rate. 

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Colgate University Acceptance rate

The Colgate University acceptance rate is 24.9%. That means out of every 100 applicants, 25 students are admitted.

The school is quite selective in its admission process. Yet, you must meet the requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores so as to stand a better chance of getting in. Anything less than the minimum GPA and SAT/ACT scores will slim down your chance of getting an admission letter.

Colgate University GPA Requirements

Despite the fact that there are minimum GPA requirements specified by many schools, GPA requirements are just the minimum scores you’re expected to submit along with your application so as not to get rejected immediately. 

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need to stand a real chance of getting in. Below is Colgate’s average GPA for its current students. 

GPA

If you get a GPA of 3.72, you are expected to be around average in your high school class. You’ll need a combination of A’s and B’s, but mostly A’s. You can take hard courses like AP or IB classes to help boost your weighted GPA and show you can take college classes.

However, your GPA will be hard to change in time for college applications if you’re currently junior or senior. A higher SAT or ACT score will be needed makeup if your average GPA is less than 3.72 GPA. With a low GPA, you don’t stand a chance against other applicants who have higher GPAs.

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SAT and ACT Requirements

Different schools implement different requirements for standardizing tests. The majority of the schools require the SAT or ACT, while others also require SAT subject tests. 

Before you submit an application to Colgate University, it’s either you take the SAT or ACT  test. You must perform well in the test to have a strong application.

Colgate University SAT Requirements

Despite the fact that most schools don’t have an official cutoff SAT score, there is actually a hidden SAT requirement based on the school’s average score.

1415 is the average SAT score composite of Colgate on the 1600 SAT scale. Therefore, Colgate University is very Competitive in SAT test scores.

Colgate University-New SAT 25th percentile score is 1320, and the New SAT 75th percentile score is 1510. To stand a chance of getting admitted, score at least 1320 on your new SAT score.

SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile
Math725670780
Reading + Writing690650730
Composite141513201510

Colgate Acceptance Rate

SAT Score Choice Policy

Colgate University’s score choice policy for “Highest Section” is a very crucial part of their testing strategy. Also known as “super scoring”, you can choose the SAT tests to send. The admission committee at Colgate will consider your highest section scores from all the different SAT test dates you submit.

Colgate University ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, there’s no known hard ACT cutoff mark based on the Colgate University acceptance rate. However, if your score is low, you won’t stand a chance of getting in.

Colgate’s average ACT score is 33. This score makes it moderately competitive in terms of ACT scores.

The ACT score 25th percentile is 31, while the ACT score 75th percentile is 34.

Colgate has no minimum ACT requirement, but if your ACT score is 31 or below, it will be quite hard for you to get accepted unless your application is unique.

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Therefore,  if your ACT score is currently less than 31, you should prepare and retake the ACT test. You will have a  higher chance of getting in if you are able to raise your score.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

There’s an optional essay section for the SAT and ACT.

Colgate University requires an SAT Essay/ACT Writing section. If you do well, they’ll consider your application to be stronger. 

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SAT Subject Test Requirements

SAT subject test requirements are different in many schools. Some selective schools will need them, while others won’t.

It is unknown if Colgate University needs SAT subject tests, therefore you have to check 6 months before applying to make sure you have enough time to prepare and take the test.

Because of how very selective Colgate University is, it is very necessary to have a strong academic performance so as to increase your chance of getting admission. If you score a 1415 SAT or a 33 ACT or higher, then you can be sure of admission.

With a high SAT/ACT score, an impressive GPA of 3.72, amazing extracurriculars, and strong letters of recommendation, you can possibly get accepted into Colgate University. 

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Colgate’s Student Body

The student body at Colgate university is generally “happy and enthusiastic”. A typical Colgate student “is athletic, smart, engaged, and down to earth.” They enjoy having fun, spend time in the library as well, and can be found almost always wearing Patagonia and Sperrys.” The students have great diversity among them and are able to find their niche and fit in as long as they are not afraid to do what they love. 

Other popular aspects of the student body are Fraternities, sororities, and partying in general. At a time, there were changes in the school’s alcohol policies which most students saw as the impetus for initiatives to expand the number of alternatives students have to party on weekends. Students also enjoy the “country club atmosphere. Residing in Hamilton for four years will inevitably make you as a student fit in whether you are the typical student or not. 

Conclusion

Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York that presently enrolled about 3,000 students in 56 undergraduate majors that culminate in a Bachelor of Arts degree.

The 56 undergraduate majors are all registered officially with the New York State Department of Education. The majors lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree, and there’s a small Master of Arts in Teaching program, which graduates 3–7 students each year.

Colgate’s acceptance rate is 24.9%.

That means, out of 100 applications, only 25 are accepted. The school is quite selective. An average SAT score composite of 1415 and an average GPA of 3.72 will increase your chances of getting in. 

FAQs on Colgate Acceptance Rate and How to get in Easily

1. How hard is Colgate to get into?

The Colgate acceptance rate is 24.9%. Out of 100 applicants, 25 are admitted. Therefore, it is quite hard to get into Colgate

2. How do I get accepted by Colgate University? 

For your application to get accepted, you must meet or exceed Colgate University’s requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application.

3. What GPA is required for Colgate?

The Colgate University average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class was 3.68 on the 4.0 scale. This means that primarily B+ students are accepted and enrolled in the university. 

4. Is Colgate University prestigious?

Colgate University is recognized as one of the top national liberal arts colleges. U.S. News & World Report ranks it #12 in the U.S

5.  Is Colgate selective?

Admissions into Colgate admissions are very selective as the university has an acceptance rate of 27%. With a high SAT/ACT score, an impressive GPA of 3.72, amazing extracurriculars, and strong letters of recommendation, you can possibly get accepted into Colgate University

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