Is Colgate or Wesleyan harder to get into?

Colgate is harder to get into than Wesleyan. Colgate's 13.9% acceptance rate is lower than Wesleyan's 16.5%.

Which is cheaper, Colgate or Wesleyan?

Colgate costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Colgate's average net price is $28,786 vs $30,177 at Wesleyan.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Colgate or Wesleyan?

Colgate graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $85,139 at Colgate and $73,897 at Wesleyan.

Colgate vs. Wesleyan: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Colgate	Wesleyan
Acceptance rate	13.9%	16.5%
SAT mid-50%	1430–1540	1415–1540
ACT mid-50%	33–34	33–35
Cost of attendance	$87,070	$89,020
Avg net price (after aid)	$28,786	$30,177
Undergrad enrollment	3,180	3,067
6-yr graduation rate	91.2%	92.6%
Median earnings (10yr)	$85,139	$73,897
Setting	Hamilton, New York	Middletown, Connecticut

The Real Differences

Colgate is modestly harder to get into. The 2.6-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.

Net cost is essentially the same at both schools after grants and scholarships, despite different sticker prices. Both schools meet most demonstrated need for in-range income brackets.

Colgate graduates earn $11,242 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Wesleyan grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Colgate is in Hamilton, New York; Wesleyan is in Middletown, Connecticut. 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.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Colgate is 56.8% women, 8.1% international, and 5.3% Asian-American. Wesleyan is 52.2% women, 9.9% international, and 9.0% Asian-American.

Demographic	Colgate	Wesleyan
Women	56.8%	52.2%
International	8.1%	9.9%
White	64.3%	53.6%
Asian	5.3%	9.0%
Hispanic	9.6%	10.8%
Black	4.3%	6.0%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Colgate vs. Wesleyan?

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

Run the calculator

The Verdict

Pick Colgate if

Net price matters: Colgate costs $1,391 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($85,139 vs $73,897)
Core Distinction courses

Pick Wesleyan if

Your odds are realistic at Wesleyan (slightly easier admit)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
the College of Social Studies

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

Colgate University

13.9% accept · Hamilton, New York

Full profile

Wesleyan University

16.5% accept · Middletown, Connecticut

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.

Keep going

Calculate your odds All colleges Most selective Best financial aid Highest earnings

Colgate University vs. Wesleyan University