Colby College vs Franklin and Marshall College (FandM)
Colby College and Franklin and Marshall College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Colby, nestled in the picturesque town of Waterville, Maine, boasts a lower acceptance rate (13.4%) compared to Franklin and Marshall's (38.6%) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While Colby's student body is slightly larger, both colleges share a vibrant and diverse community. Explore their contrasting popular majors, from Colby's strengths in Government and Biology to Franklin and Marshall's focus on Business, Management, and Economics. Discover the nuances in their graduation rates, financial aid opportunities, and the unique strengths of each institution. Delve into the comparison table to uncover the details that will guide your decision towards the college that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Colby College |
![]() Franklin and Marshall College |
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Overview |
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Location | Waterville, Maine | Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.9% | 37.5% |
Application fees | $60 | |
SAT range | 1400 - 1530 | N/A |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 15,857 | 7,720 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,407 | 2,898 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 667 | 510 |
Yield rate | 47.4% | 17.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $68,825 | $80,618 |
Average net price | $17,912 | $26,316 |
Tuition | $58,640 | $63,216 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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Room/dormitory:
$8,722
Meal plan:
$6,018
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
39.0%
Average amount $58,513 |
62.0%
Average amount $50,026 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
53.0%
Average amount $4,947 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
7.0%
Average amount $16,505 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
2,145
Men 44.2% Women 55.8% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 9.5% | 18.2% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 2,242 | 2,272 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.6% | 82.8% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 2.0% |
Transferred out | 7.5% | 13.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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