At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.
Colby College is a highly selective liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine, known for its beautiful campus, strong environmental studies programs, and innovative DavisConnects career program. Its commitment to undergraduate research and generous financial aid have driven its rapid rise among the nation's top liberal arts colleges.
Mascot: Mule
Notable Alumni
Doris Kearns Goodwin (Pulitzer-winning historian)•Robert B. Parker (bestselling mystery novelist)•Elijah Parish Lovejoy (free press martyr)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Athletics
Campus Experience
Colby abolished Greek life in 1984, but underground social organizations still linger as an open secret, creating quiet tensions around exclusivity on an otherwise egalitarian campus. The remote Waterville, Maine location means the social world is self-contained — house parties and the campus bar scene dominate weekends. The outdoorsy, preppy New England vibe is genuine, and the tight-knit community feel is amplified by everyone being stuck on the same hill together.
A hilltop campus in central Maine with Georgian brick buildings overlooking Runnals Pond and Johnson Pond, surrounded by forests and offering sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Very low crime on this hilltop campus in rural Maine. Security operates 24/7 with blue-light phones, electronically secured dorms, and late-night transport services.
Waterville is a small Maine town that is generally safe, though it has slightly higher property crime than typical rural New England communities.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Weekdays during the academic year; select dates in summer
Duration: ~60 minutes
Tours depart from Lunder House and are led by current students. You can sit in on select classes during the semester -- check the front desk at Lunder House for options. Pre-registration required.
Book a TourVisitors can explore the campus and the 128-acre arboretum and bird sanctuary independently. The Colby College Museum of Art -- the largest exhibition space of any museum in Maine -- is free and open to the public.
Tour ResourcesSeptember through mid-October for spectacular Maine fall foliage and active campus life. Late April through May is also lovely. Avoid January-February when Waterville averages highs in the 20s and campus can feel isolated.
Free visitor parking behind Lunder House. From I-95, take Exit 127 (Waterville/Oakland) and follow blue signs to Colby. The nearest major airport is Portland International Jetport (PWM), about 80 minutes south. Bangor (BGR) is 75 minutes north. No public transit to campus -- a rental car is essential.
Location
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