Houghton College vs Colby-Sawyer College
Houghton College and Colby-Sawyer College, while both offering a strong liberal arts education, present distinct experiences for prospective students. Houghton, a private Christian college in New York, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to Colby-Sawyer's more selective admissions (67%). In terms of student demographics, Houghton's student body is predominantly White (88%) and female (61%), while Colby-Sawyer's student population is more diverse, with a larger percentage of international students (10%) and a more balanced gender ratio. When it comes to academics, Houghton excels in fields like Business, Education, and Health Professions, while Colby-Sawyer shines in areas such as Psychology, Social Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. With Houghton's higher graduation rate (70%) compared to Colby-Sawyer's 65%, both institutions provide ample opportunities for students to succeed and achieve their academic goals. Explore the detailed comparison table below to
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![]() Colby-Sawyer College |
![]() Houghton College |
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Overview |
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Location | New London, New Hampshire | Houghton, New York |
Campus setting | Rural: Distant | Rural: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 68.0% | 75.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 93.1% | 79.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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SAT range | N/A | 1080 - 1290 |
ACT range | N/A | 20 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 28.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 6.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 1,847 | 1,008 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,719 | 797 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 256 | 204 |
Yield rate | 14.9% | 25.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $63,334 | $27,846 |
Average net price | $26,781 | $24,502 |
Tuition | $45,454 | $15,900 |
Room & board | $15,891 |
Room/dormitory:
$5,288
Meal plan:
$4,568
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $36,396 |
100.0%
Average amount $21,951 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
82.0%
Average amount $5,277 |
62.0%
Average amount $5,120 |
Students taking out private loans |
18.0%
Average amount $15,243 |
18.0%
Average amount $13,866 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
788
Men 28.3% Women 71.7% |
863
Men 37.2% Women 62.8% |
Graduate students |
50
Men 20.0% Women 80.0% |
32
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 56.7% | N/A |
International students | 1.7% | 4.9% |
Campus local/setting | Rural: Distant | Rural: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 936 | 1,015 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New Hampshire Mississippi Vermont Maine Connecticut | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 12:1 |
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 | 64.6% | 64.6% |
Dropout rate | 34.7% | 13.2% |
Transferred out | N/A | 22.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Health (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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