Colby College vs St. John's College
Colby College and St. John's College, two esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Colby, located in Waterville, Maine, boasts a higher acceptance rate (13.5%) compared to St. John's in Annapolis, Maryland (10.5%). While Colby's student body is more diverse, with 48% female and 52% male students, St. John's has a more balanced gender ratio, with 49% female and 51% male students. Both colleges offer a range of popular majors, including English, Economics, and Biology, but Colby has a slightly higher graduation rate (89%) than St. John's (86%). Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Colby College |
![]() St. John's College |
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Overview |
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Location | Waterville, Maine | Santa Fe, New Mexico |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Rural: Fringe |
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 and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 72.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.9% | 62.7% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1400 - 1530 | 1280 - 1470 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 25 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 23.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 15,857 | 456 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,407 | 286 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 667 | 119 |
Yield rate | 47.4% | 41.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not 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 | $51,688 |
Average net price | $17,912 | $25,628 |
Tuition | $58,640 | $35,000 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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Room/dormitory:
$7,446
Meal plan:
$6,832
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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 |
81.0%
Average amount $21,782 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
52.0%
Average amount $4,431 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
2.0%
Average amount $26,797 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
368
Men 51.1% Women 48.9% |
Graduate students | N/A |
81
Men 61.7% Women 38.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 9.5% | 14.0% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Rural: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 2,242 | 375 |
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 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.6% | 71.6% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 9.5% |
Transferred out | 7.5% | 17.6% |
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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Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's Degrees)
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