Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Remote town

Colby College

Waterville, Maine. 2,407 undergraduates. Admits 7% of applicants.

Maine colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
87%Graduation rate33 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$19,835Average net price per yearAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
$88,776Median earnings 10 years after starting51% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$18,000Median debt at graduation17% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($18,000) equals 20% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($88,776). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$5,263
$30,000–$48,000$2,358
$48,001–$75,000$3,132
$75,001–$110,000$10,750
Over $110,000$53,340

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $72,910.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate87%54%
Return for second year94%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$62,530$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$88,776$58,912
Median debt at graduation$18,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

36 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Economics107$84,044$114,079$21,500
Computer Science35$102,172——
Political Science and Government49$62,942$102,068$15,750
International/Globalization Studies24$49,050$79,999—
Psychology, General50$72,365——
Natural Resources Conservation and Research52$44,377$67,732—
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General6—$65,720—
Biology, General31$52,410——
Neurobiology and Neurosciences28$47,241——
Area Studies17———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies2———
Computer and Information Sciences, General5———
Education, General17———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics14———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
English Language and Literature, General16———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies13———
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology2———
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology7———
Mathematics24———
Statistics14———
Science, Technology and Society14———
Classical and Ancient Studies7———
Human Computer Interaction2———
Philosophy11———
Religion/Religious Studies11———
Chemistry24———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences2———
Physics8———
Research and Experimental Psychology18———
Anthropology13———
Sociology21———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft2———
Fine and Studio Arts29———
Music8———
History23———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

7%Admission rate
1,501Average SAT of admitted students
32–34ACT middle 50%
9:1Students per faculty member
16%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in Maine

Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick · net price $15,595 · grad rate 93%Maine Maritime AcademyCastine · net price $21,078 · grad rate 58%College of the AtlanticBar Harbor · net price $24,465 · grad rate 73%Husson UniversityBangor · net price $22,146 · grad rate 60%Bates CollegeLewiston · net price $27,390 · grad rate 88%University of MaineOrono · net price $17,224 · grad rate 57%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Colby College cost per year?
The average net price at Colby College, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $19,835 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Colby College graduates earn?
Former Colby College students earn a median of $88,776 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Colby College?
87% of Colby College students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Colby College graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Colby College is $18,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.