| Location: | Northeast |
| Setting: | Small Town Setting |
| Type: | Private |
| Size: | Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad) |
| Mascot: | Mules |
Colby College, founded in 1813, is an American private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine.
Colby is the 12th oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States. Approximately 1,800 students from 66 countries are enrolled annually; the college offers 53 major fields of study and uses project-based learning. Volunteer programs and service-learning take many students into the surrounding community. More than two thirds of Colby students participate in study-abroad programs. Together with Bates College and Bowdoin College, Colby is one of three small liberal arts colleges in Maine. Colby College competes in the NESCAC league and is considered to be among what are known as the "Little Ivies." In 2008, Colby was ranked the 15th best liberal arts college by both Forbes and Kiplingers and 22nd in the U.S. News and World Report rankings. Colby was named one of the "25 New Elite Ivies" by the Kaplan College Guide
Although one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the nation, Colby is in the midst of a major campus building program, including a new social sciences and interdisciplinary studies building. It will house academic departments and the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement. The College has also created a new program in neuroscience.
The original name of the college was the Maine Literary and Theological Institution. After Maine separated from Massachusetts, the new legislature conferred upon the school the right to grant degrees. Soon afterwards, in 1821, the college was renamed Waterville College. During the Civil War, the school was on the verge of closing due to many students leaving to fight the war. Gardner Colby, a Boston merchant and Maine native gave a large donation which prevented the college's closure. The college was renamed Colby College in gratitude.
In 1871, Colby College was the first all-male college in New England to accept women students. One of the buildings is named after the first woman student, Mary Low, who was the valedictorian of her class.
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| Percent of Students International: | 7% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 91% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Basketball (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Baseball (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Track (Eastern College Athletic Conference) |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 6,327 | 8% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 904 | 4% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 23,980 | 39% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 2,843 | 25% | |
Any Aid: |
50% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 38% (Highly Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 83% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 640, Math: 640 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 720, Math: 710 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 25% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 27, Verbal: 27, Math: 26 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 31, Verbal: 33, Math: 30 |
| Application Fee: | $ 55.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Recommended |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Recommended |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
