Sweet Briar College vs Colby College
Sweet Briar College and Colby College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Sweet Briar, a women's college in Virginia, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on liberal arts education, while Colby, a coeducational college in Maine, emphasizes experiential learning and offers a wide range of academic programs. With acceptance rates of 75% and 14%, respectively, these colleges cater to different levels of academic competitiveness. While Sweet Briar's student body is predominantly female, Colby's is more diverse, reflecting a broader range of backgrounds and perspectives. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further distinctions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your college decision.
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![]() Colby College |
![]() Sweet Briar College |
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Overview |
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Location | Waterville, Maine | Sweet Briar, Virginia |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Midsize |
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% | 71.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.9% | 80.0% |
Application fees | $40 | |
SAT range | 1400 - 1530 | 1020 - 1260 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 23 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 18.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 14.0% |
Total number of applicants | 15,857 | 1,192 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,407 | 954 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 667 | 177 |
Yield rate | 47.4% | 18.6% |
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 | $34,330 |
Average net price | $17,912 | $22,711 |
Tuition | $58,640 | $22,120 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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$13,880 |
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 |
93.0%
Average amount $17,220 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
44.0%
Average amount $4,949 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
2.0%
Average amount $6,248 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
452
Men 0.0% Women 100.0% |
Graduate students | N/A |
2
Men 0.0% Women 100.0% |
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% | 5.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 2,242 | 561 |
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 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.6% | 41.7% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 16.7% |
Transferred out | 7.5% | 41.7% |
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/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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