Colby College is extremely difficult to get into. Colby College admitted 8% of all applicants in 2022. In 2023, just 1,286 out of the 16,890 students who applied were accepted.
If you are applying to Colby College, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 1/1 and there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.
Students who apply to Colby College for fall should anticipate a decision by April 1.
Colby College Admissions Stats at a Glance
The following is an overiew of some of Colby College's admissions stats.
| Colby College 2023 | Admissions Statistics |
|---|---|
| Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 82% |
| Mean SAT Score | 1465 |
| Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
| Applicants Who Submit SATs | 42% |
| Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 24% |
| Waitlist | Yes |
Colby College Application Deadlines
These are the application deadlines for Colby College.
| Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | Yes | November 15 | December 15 |
| Early Decision II | Yes | January 1 | February 15 |
| Early Action | No | – | – |
| Regular Decision | Yes | 1 1 | April 1 |
Considering Applying Early to Colby College?
Colby College offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.
🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 15 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.
🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 1. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 15.
The early decision acceptance rate at Colby College is 35%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 8%. In 2022, Colby College admitted 363 of the 1025 students who applied early decision.
Some students apply early to college to increase their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of being admitted, since it shows your interest in a school.
➡️ See a list of some selective colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
More on Colby College Admissions
Transferring to Colby College
Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.
For Students Waitlisted to Colby College
In 2022, Colby College waitlisted 5,130 students and 1,868 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 32 eventually were offered a spot.
What Does Colby College Look For in an Applicant?
Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are given the most weight when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the areas where you stand out.
Admissions Factors at Colby College
What does Colby College consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
| Admissions Factor | Level |
|---|---|
| Character/Personal Qualities | Very Important |
| Recommendation(s) | Very Important |
| Academic GPA | Very Important |
| Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
| Class Rank | Important |
| Application Essay | Important |
| Extracurricular Activities | Important |
| Racial/Ethnic Status | Important |
| Talent/Ability | Important |
| Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
| Geographical Residence | Considered |
| Standardized Test Scores | Considered |
| Volunteer Work | Considered |
| Work Experience | Considered |
| Level of Applicant's Interest | Considered |
| First Generation | Considered |
Make sure to check with Colby College for more information on admission factors.
Colby College Application Requirements
To apply to Colby College, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with Colby College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
| Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter(s) of Recommendation | 3 | – | – | – |
| Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | – | – | – |
| Transcript of High School Record | √ | – | – | – |
GPA and Testing
What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Colby College?
Colby College has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.
Out of all students that were admitted, 20% submitted a class rank. At Colby College 82% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 96% were in the top 25% and 99% were in the top 50%.
GPAs of Admitted Students
At Colby College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
| GPA | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 GPA | – |
| 3.75 and 3.99 | – |
| 3.50 and 3.74 | – |
| 3.25 and 3.49 | – |
| 3.00 and 3.24 | – |
| 2.50 and 2.9 | – |
| 2.00 and 2.49 | – |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Colby College directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Standardized Test Scores
Colby College is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 42% of Colby College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 24% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
What is a Good SAT Score for Colby College?
To be competitive with other Colby College applicants, you should strive to earn between 1440 and 1530 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Colby College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1530 and 25% of scored lower than 1440, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Colby College student is 1465.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Colby College students scored 790 or higher and 75% of students scored 710 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Colby College students scored 750 or higher, and 75% scored a 710 or higher.
To be most competitive at Colby College, you should strive to earn between 32 and 34 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Colby College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.
A 32 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Colby College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 32.
More Information on Transferring to Colby College
For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Colby College.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is April 1. Applicants should hear back by May 15.
Transfer students can enroll in Colby College during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Winter Term
• Spring Term
• Winter Term
• Summer Term
Colby College Admissions FAQs
Can I defer my acceptance to Colby College?
✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Colby College.
Does Colby College accept transfer credits?
✅ Colby College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.
Does Colby College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ Colby College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to Colby College?
❌ No, Colby College is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If you have higher than average scores, you should strongly consider submitting them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.
What is Colby College's acceptance rate?
✅ The acceptance rate for Colby College is 8%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Colby College?
✅ Colby College's early decision acceptance rate was 35% in 2021.
Want To Learn More About Colby College?
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