Hobart William Smith Colleges vs Colby College
Hobart William Smith Colleges and Colby College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Hobart and William Smith, a private, coeducational college in Geneva, New York, boasts a 44% acceptance rate, while Colby College, a private, coeducational college in Waterville, Maine, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 34%. Hobart and William Smith students can choose from popular majors like economics, biology, and psychology, while Colby College students often pursue majors in government, economics, and biology. Hobart and William Smith's student body is slightly more diverse, with 20% of students identifying as racial or ethnic minorities compared to Colby College's 16%. Both colleges boast impressive graduation rates, with Hobart and William Smith at 86% and Colby College at 88%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two excellent institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Colby College |
![]() Hobart William Smith Colleges |
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Overview |
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Location | Waterville, Maine | Geneva, New York |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Town: Distant |
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 and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 91.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.9% | 67.4% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1400 - 1530 | 1170 - 1370 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 26 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 23.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 8.0% |
Total number of applicants | 15,857 | 3,752 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,407 | 2,530 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 667 | 367 |
Yield rate | 47.4% | 14.5% |
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 | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $68,825 | $77,115 |
Average net price | $17,912 | $34,239 |
Tuition | $58,640 | $58,990 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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Room/dormitory:
$8,610
Meal plan:
$7,800
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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 |
92.0%
Average amount $42,187 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
64.0%
Average amount $5,304 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
7.0%
Average amount $16,946 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
1,660
Men 48.3% Women 51.7% |
Graduate students | N/A |
24
Men 54.2% Women 45.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 56.2% |
International students | 9.5% | 6.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 2,242 | 1,829 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | New York Mississippi New Jersey Connecticut California |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.6% | 73.1% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 22.7% |
Transferred out | 7.5% | N/A |
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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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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