Is Colgate test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1490 and hold it if it's under.

What is Colgate's acceptance rate?

14% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 2,871 of 20,682 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 137%, from 8,724 in 2015 to 20,682 in 2024, and Colgate's admit rate went from 27% to 14%.

What ACT score do you need for Colgate?

14% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 33–34, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1450–1530 works out to about 33–35.

Why might Colgate's SAT range look high?

Only 23% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Colgate?

19% of early decision applicants were admitted (477 of 2,447), against 14% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Colgate?

48 of the 1,338 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 3.6%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Colgate? (Middle 50%: 1450–1530)

First-year students at Colgate who sent an SAT scored 1450–1530, with a median of 1490 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Colgate admits 14% of applicants and is test optional.

Colgate University · Hamilton, NY

Where your score lands at Colgate

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1450–1530, median 1490

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Colgate is for you and whether to send your score.

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Colgate by the numbers

Admit rate: 14%
Middle 50% SAT: 1450–1530
Median SAT: 1490
About on the ACT: 33–35
Sent an SAT: 23%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Colgate admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Colgate admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 137%, from 8,724 in 2015 to 20,682 in 2024, and Colgate's admit rate went from 27% to 14%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	20,682	2,871	14%
2023	21,130	2,526	12%
2022	21,109	2,624	12%
2021	17,540	3,015	17%
2020	8,583	2,358	27%
2019	9,951	2,247	23%
2018	9,716	2,422	25%
2017	8,542	2,404	28%
2016	8,394	2,416	29%
2015	8,724	2,387	27%

In fall 2024, 825 of the 2,871 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Colgate

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1400Far reachHold
1400–1480ReachHold
1490 and upReachSend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Colgate SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	720	750	780
SAT Reading and Writing	710	740	760
SAT total	1450	1490	1530
ACT composite	33	34	34

Of enrolled first-year students, 23% sent an SAT and 14% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Top 10% of their class: 79%; of new students who reported a rank

Colgate early decision and waitlist

Early decision

477 of 2,447 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision19%
All applicants14%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

2,433 applicants were offered a spot, 1,338 took it, and 48 were admitted from it.

3.6%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Colgate cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $28,786; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 91%
Median earnings: $85,139; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 3,261

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Colgate

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Colgate Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Colgate admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Colgate website
Colgate University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1450–1530, and the median was 1490. At 1490 or higher you're above half of them. Colgate admits 14% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$