Colgate University Acceptance Rate
Hamilton, New York · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 21,130
- Admitted
- 2,526
- Yield
- 31.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Colgate University's acceptance rate has fallen from 26.2% in 2014–15 to 12% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 8,717 to 21,130 (+142%) over that period.
Its 12% rate makes Colgate University more selective than about 97% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 119 tracked New York schools, it is more selective than about 93%.
Colgate University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 31.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 8,717 | 2,287 | 26.2% | 767 |
| 2015–16 | 8,724 | 2,387 | 27.4% | 773 |
| 2016–17 | 8,394 | 2,416 | 28.8% | 766 |
| 2017–18 | 8,542 | 2,404 | 28.1% | 771 |
| 2018–19 | 9,716 | 2,422 | 24.9% | 815 |
| 2019–20 | 9,951 | 2,247 | 22.6% | 786 |
| 2020–21 | 8,583 | 2,358 | 27.5% | 765 |
| 2021–22 | 17,540 | 3,015 | 17.2% | 887 |
| 2022–23 | 21,109 | 2,624 | 12.4% | 812 |
| 2023–24 | 21,130 | 2,526 | 12% | 807 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 11,351 | 1,462 | 12.9% |
| Men | 9,779 | 1,064 | 10.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 710–750 | 21% |
| SAT Math | 720–780 | |
| ACT Composite | 33–34 | 18% |
How Colgate University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Colgate University's acceptance rate?
Colgate University's acceptance rate is 12% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,526 admitted of 21,130 applicants).
Is Colgate University test optional?
Colgate University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Colgate University?
Colgate University received 21,130 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,526.
What SAT score do you need for Colgate University?
Admitted students at Colgate University typically scored 710–750 on SAT Reading/Writing and 720–780 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Colgate University getting harder to get into?
Colgate University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 26.2% in 2014–15 to 12% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.colgate.edu/.