Colgate University
Hamilton, New York
A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.
Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
The numbers behind the verdict
Lifetime ROI: the long view
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.
Equity & access
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
8% gap between the two groups
35% gap between the two groups
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
| Family income | Average net price / yr |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30k | $6,086 |
| $30k–$48k | $2,678 |
| $48k–$75k | $13,617 |
| $75k–$110k | $21,831 |
| $110k+ | $48,234 |
How Colgate University compares
This college against the New York and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of Colgate University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
Best-paying majors at Colgate University
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
| Major | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | Associate's | $130,139 | $17,500 | +1,231% | Strong return |
| Political Science and Government | Associate's | $95,708 | $16,250 | +699% | Strong return |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Associate's | $86,420 | — | +619% | Strong return |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | Associate's | $79,025 | — | +491% | Strong return |
| Psychology, General | Associate's | $77,760 | — | +469% | Strong return |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Associate's | $79,583 | $16,900 | +443% | Strong return |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Associate's | $78,918 | $17,000 | +432% | Strong return |
| English Language and Literature, General | Associate's | $60,334 | $15,875 | +142% | Strong return |
| History | Associate's | $56,891 | — | +107% | Strong return |
| Biology, General | Associate's | $55,827 | $14,730 | +72% | Strong return |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | Associate's | $49,697 | $17,250 | -26% | Poor return |
Calculate your own ROI
Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.
ROI at Colgate University
Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.
Admissions & profile
Location
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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