Is Barnard or Colby harder to get into?

Colby is harder to get into than Barnard. Colby's 7.1% acceptance rate is lower than Barnard's 8.8%.

Which is cheaper, Barnard or Colby?

Colby costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Colby's average net price is $17,180 vs $28,800 at Barnard.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Barnard or Colby?

Barnard graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $80,516 at Barnard and $80,490 at Colby.

Barnard vs. Colby: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Barnard	Colby
Acceptance rate	8.8%	7.1%
SAT mid-50%	1470–1560	1460–1550
ACT mid-50%	32–34	32–34
Cost of attendance	$89,538	$85,420
Avg net price (after aid)	$28,800	$17,180
Undergrad enrollment	3,264	2,407
6-yr graduation rate	93.0%	88.8%
Median earnings (10yr)	$80,516	$80,490
Setting	New York, New York	Waterville, Maine

The Real Differences

Colby is modestly harder to get into. The 1.8-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.

Colby is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $11,620 per year, $46,480 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Barnard is in New York, New York; Colby is in Waterville, Maine. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Barnard has a more international student body (15.6% non-resident students vs 11.2%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.

Barnard's graduation rate is meaningfully higher (93.0% vs 88.8% 6-year completion). Graduation gaps at this level usually reflect support-system differences, financial aid adequacy, or degree-flexibility — worth verifying with each school's first-year retention and major-change policies.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Barnard is 100.0% women, 15.6% international, and 21.9% Asian-American. Colby is 51.2% women, 11.2% international, and 10.2% Asian-American.

Demographic	Barnard	Colby
Women	100.0%	51.2%
International	15.6%	11.2%
White	32.4%	54.9%
Asian	21.9%	10.2%
Hispanic	14.3%	8.4%
Black	5.5%	4.8%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Barnard vs. Colby?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick Barnard if

Your odds are realistic at Barnard (slightly easier admit)
Higher median post-grad earnings ($80,516 vs $80,490)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
its partnership with Columbia

Pick Colby if

Net price matters: Colby costs $11,620 less per year on average
Jan Plan month-long term

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Barnard College

8.8% accept · New York, New York

Full profile

Colby College

7.1% accept · Waterville, Maine

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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Barnard College vs. Colby College