Haverford College vs Colby College
Haverford College and Colby College, both highly regarded liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Haverford, located just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, boasts a lower acceptance rate (12%) and a smaller student body (1,300 undergraduates) compared to Colby's 18% acceptance rate and 2,000 undergraduates in Waterville, Maine. While Haverford students pursue majors in the social sciences and humanities, Colby students excel in the natural sciences and social sciences. Haverford's diverse student body comprises 48% students of color, while Colby's student body is 16% students of color. Both colleges boast impressive graduation rates, with Haverford at 94% and Colby at 92%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more distinctions and determine which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Colby College |
![]() Haverford College |
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Overview |
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Location | Waterville, Maine | Haverford, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 94.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.9% | 17.8% |
Application fees | $65 | |
SAT range | 1400 - 1530 | 1420 - 1540 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 38.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 21.0% |
Total number of applicants | 15,857 | 5,332 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,407 | 951 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 667 | 411 |
Yield rate | 47.4% | 43.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $68,825 | $81,570 |
Average net price | $17,912 | $24,462 |
Tuition | $58,640 | $60,442 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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Room/dormitory:
$10,320
Meal plan:
$6,980
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
39.0%
Average amount $58,513 |
45.0%
Average amount $53,518 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
15.0%
Average amount $4,885 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
3.0%
Average amount $26,584 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
1,420
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 9.5% | 10.6% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,242 | 1,424 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.6% | 90.1% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 2.9% |
Transferred out | 7.5% | 6.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
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