Private · #21 Liberal Arts College
Colby College
Waterville, ME · 2,407 undergraduates
What it may cost by family income
Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $85,420 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.
| Household income | Est. net price / year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $4,049 |
| $30k–$48k | $1,251 |
| $48k–$75k | $3,666 |
| $75k–$110k | $12,106 |
| Over $110k | $46,511 |
Sticker cost of attendance: $85,420.
What the whole degree costs
Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.
| Household income | 4 yrs, today's prices | 4 yrs with increases |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $16,196 | $17,066 |
| $30k–$48k | $5,004 | $5,273 |
| $48k–$75k | $14,664 | $15,452 |
| $75k–$110k | $48,424 | $51,026 |
| Over $110k | $186,044 | $196,041 |
First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask Colby College how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.
Applying to a specific major at Colby College
7% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.
To find the real figure for your major, check Colby College's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.
Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at Colby College in computer science, engineering, nursing, business, architecture or visual & performing arts, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.
What graduates earn, by major
Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of Colby College, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.
| Major | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Economics. · Social Sciences | $57,995 | — |
| Political Science and Government. · Social Sciences | $47,118 | — |
| International/Globalization Studies. | $42,682 | — |
| Psychology, General. · Social Sciences | $38,289 | — |
| Biology, General. · Biological Sciences | $30,771 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General. · Humanities | $41,193 | — |
| Area Studies. | $33,993 | — |
Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.
Is Colby College a reach, target, or safety for you?
Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.
Model my odds & cost — freeFigures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with Colby College’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.