The Colgate Class of 2017 breaks several admission records.
Final admission figures for the Class of 2017 show a record-breaking year for Colgate, both in terms of academic strength and overall diversity of enrolled students.
While achieving continued growth of a diverse and intellectually vibrant student body is an annual goal for the university, this class also broadens the socioeconomic makeup of campus. Thanks to the success of the Passion for the Climb campaign, 42 percent of incoming students will receive financial aid, and the average aid award is $42,575.
“In line with our goal of making Colgate more accessible to the world’s best students, increased financial aid availability will have a profound impact on our campus,” said Karen Giannino, senior associate dean of admission.
The average GPA of accepted students is 3.77, an all-time high, and an average combined SAT of 1403, tied with the highest on record. The average ACT is 32, an SAT equivalent of 1420. Eighty-four percent of applicants were in the top 10 percent of their class, and 95 percent were within the top 20 percent.
The Class of 2017 also has the distinction of being Colgate’s most diverse. A total of 28.7 percent of enrolled students identify as multicultural, with 8 percent self-identified as black or African American, another all-time high. Once these students arrive on campus, 28.1 percent of the overall student population will identify as nonwhite.
“Having a class that has both a record profile and great diversity is a tremendous accomplishment by our colleagues in the admission office,” said President Jeffrey Herbst.
The Class of 2017 also has the largest population of students from outside the traditional Northeast area of enrollment, at 44.2 percent. Overall applications increased by 7.4 percent over 2012, and the acceptance rate decreased from 28.8 percent in 2012 to 26 percent this year.
“I think our team in admission does a really great job in identifying students who would be a terrific match for Colgate,” said Vice President and Dean of Admission Gary Ross. “We could not be successful if it were not for the efforts of so many members of the student body, faculty, and staff who make themselves available in a variety of different ways for newly admitted students.”
International students, from 24 countries, will make up 11 percent of the incoming class. Dual citizens represent an additional 17 countries.
“We must offer all of our students the opportunity to live and work with people who come from different backgrounds,” said Giannino. “There’s no substitute for the exchange of ideas that happens face to face.”
When prospective students visit campus and have positive interactions with the Colgate community, they immediately understand the difference of attending school here, Ross said.
“In addition to the superb academic opportunities that Colgate offers its students, the wide variety of activities and overall busyness of this campus creates a level of excitement that often attracts students who previously may have thought they would only be happy at a larger institution,” Ross said.