Is Colgate an Ivy League school? The answer may surprise you! Although it probably won’t!

Colgate University is a highly selective private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York. Founded in 1819 as the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York, Colgate has a long history of spirited student traditions, rigorous academics, and athletic outdoorsiness that its many engaged alumni know and love. But is it an Ivy League school? No — Colgate is far from an Ivy League school. This is not to say that it’s not a world-renowned institution that many students try and fail to get into each year. But it’s no Ivy League.

No, the Ivy League comprises eight elite schools sharing the same athletic conference: Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. These schools are among the nation’s oldest and most selective and share a storied history of academic achievement and highly successful alumni that most colleges can only dream of!

Colgate University: A Brief Overview

Located in the lush, rural fields of the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, Colgate’s student body of roughly 3,200 undergraduates forms a close-knit community that might remind a visiting Dartmouth student of the communal culture found back at their school. Its architecturally varied campus boasts a variety of historic buildings, natural vistas, and over 1,000 acres of undeveloped land. Students spend their time at Colgate attending Greek life parties, participating in cutting-edge research, and cheering on the Colgate Raiders at home games. 

One unique facet of campus life is the curriculum’s emphasis on outdoor education. Not only do students have access to outdoor sports equipment rentals, but first-years are offered a week-long trip into the wilderness called Wilderness Adventure. Notable alumni who have graduated (or, in some cases, dropped out!) from this prestigious college include 11th Chief Justice of the United States Charles Evans Hughes, co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s Ben Cohen, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges.

Is Colgate a Hidden or Little Ivy?

Even though Colgate is not an Ivy League school, it certainly pulls its weight regarding selectivity. For admission to the Class of 2028, 20,915 high school seniors applied for only 2,843 slots, for a 14% acceptance rate. While this holds no candle to any of the Ivy League schools (all of which recorded overall acceptance rates in the single digits during this admission cycle), it still places Colgate among the most selective institutions in the nation. 79% of Colgate’s Class of 2028 graduated in the top 10% of their high school, with an average GPA of 3.94. The middle 50% of SAT scores for this cohort was 1480–1540, while the middle 50% of ACT scores was 33–35.

In other words, only the most academically ambitious students are getting into Colgate these days, a far cry from when the college admitted roughly 25% of applicants a mere ten years ago. Is it any surprise that Colgate has thus been categorized as a Hidden Ivy in The Hidden Ivies, 3rd Edition: 63 of America’s Top Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities (2016), or that US News & World Report ranks it as the 22nd best liberal arts college in the nation?

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Colgate Admission

Getting into Colgate is no walk in the park, Ivy League or not. Prospective applicants must harness the power of a compelling singular hook when applying to distinguish themselves from the many applicants who try to get in by framing themselves as well-rounded (a big mistake, huge!).

Let us explain: admissions officers at Colgate are in no position to admit students who won’t take advantage of all the resources and opportunities the campus offers. Your singular hook is your game plan for demonstrating you’re the candidate who won’t squander their admission to Colgate. With the help of Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers, your child can optimize their odds of admission to Colgate using this very strategy.

If you’re interested in getting started, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.