What is Colby College Acceptance Rate?

Colby College is a privately owned liberal arts college which offers 30 minors and 54 majors. When it was founded 1813, its first name was Maine Literary and Theological Institution. Then it went on to become Colby College, its other names were Waterville College and Colby University respectively. The institution coined its name from its benefactor, Christian philanthropist Gardner Colby. This article will review the acceptance rate at Colby College.

The school lies on a 714-acre land in central Maine sitting over the Kennebec River Valley and downtown Waterville. The Baptists founded the Maine Literary and Theological Institution sometime in 1813. Then, the school relocated to Waterville and sat on a donated land of 179 acres. Because of the separation of Massachusetts and Maine in 1820, the Maine legislature ensured the academic institution did not deny students admission on the basis of religion. Also, it prevented the college from using a religious exams in selecting its board members. On top of that, the legislature barred its trustees from granting degrees.

That said, in February 15, 1821, the institution changed its name to Waterville College. Four years latter, it stopped its theological department. When the Civil War ended, popular philanthropist Gardner Colby donated $50,000 to the college. The school eventually changed its name in his honor. In 1871, Colby University began accepting female applicants. In 1899, Colby president Nathaniel Butler Jr changed the institution to Colby College. On April 12, 1931, Waterville citizens and the college itself went on to raise at least $100,000 to buy the 600-acre property on Mayflower Hill to provide additional space for its students.

Each student is able to decide on an independent study, take part in international learning and internship programs, and specific majors. Some of Colby’s popular courses are economics, government, and biology, and focuses alot on project-based learning. Service-learning and volunteer programs enable students to connect with the neighboring community.

Beside the two semesters per academic year, Colby does a January term where students can undertake an internship outside of the campus, take part in independent research, or participate in an intensive course.

About 60% of Colby students study outside the campus prior to graduation. They are able to earn additional credits from at least 200 programs in at least 60 countries. If you would like to move forward, do well to apply to Colby College; however, the acceptance rate at Colby College is quite low.

In addition, Colby allows its students to study and earn college units at the International Center for French Studies; the St. Petersburg Classical Gymnasium; the University of Salamanca; and the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Also, it partners with the Thayer School of Engineering and the Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science for dual-degree programs.

The 714-acre campus has many buildings and facilities in Georgian Revival design with its newest building completed in early 2014. The Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement awards the yearly Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award since its inception in 1952. Also, it promotes the Colby Cares about Kids and the Colby Volunteer Center as part of the college’s civic engagement programs.

Acceptance Rate at Colby College

It is interesting to note that the 2019 US News ranks Colby as top 18 in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category. The acceptance rate stands at 16% with applicants whose SAT scores averaged 1340-1500 or ACT scores from 31-33 having the highest chance of success. The college offers an opportunity for students to explore, engage, and discover.