Mount Holyoke College vs Colby College
Mount Holyoke College and Colby College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Mount Holyoke, a women's college in South Hadley, Massachusetts, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on empowering women leaders. Colby, a coeducational college in Waterville, Maine, emphasizes experiential learning and global engagement. With acceptance rates of 33% and 14%, respectively, these colleges attract academically accomplished students. Mount Holyoke's popular majors include psychology, English, and biology, while Colby's strengths lie in government, economics, and biology. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further distinctions, such as student body demographics, graduation rates, and financial aid opportunities, to determine which college aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
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![]() Colby College |
![]() Mount Holyoke College |
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Overview |
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Location | Waterville, Maine | South Hadley, Massachusetts |
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 and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.9% | 52.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1400 - 1530 | 1300 - 1510 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 31 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 24.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 11.0% |
Total number of applicants | 15,857 | 3,971 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,407 | 2,077 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 667 | 608 |
Yield rate | 47.4% | 29.3% |
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 | $73,438 |
Average net price | $17,912 | $29,218 |
Tuition | $58,640 | $56,300 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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Room/dormitory:
$8,320
Meal plan:
$8,260
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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 |
100.0%
Average amount $30,351 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
42.0%
Average amount $4,906 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
7.0%
Average amount $4,982 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
2,220
Men 0.1% Women 99.9% |
Graduate students | N/A |
122
Men 13.1% Women 86.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 9.5% | 23.1% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,242 | 2,171 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Mississippi New York California Connecticut Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 10:1 |
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% | 85.0% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 2.9% |
Transferred out | 7.5% | 11.9% |
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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International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, Other (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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