The average acceptance rate at Colby over the past 10 years is 12.06%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 7.09%. Colby is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 39.94%, and the 2025 yield is 46.18%. Overall, the yield has increased by 55.44% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Colby applicants increased by 7.88% (1,401 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 152.69% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 7.09%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Colby has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 46.18%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Colby is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Colby and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Colby received approximately 19,187 applications, admitted 1,360 students, and enrolled 628 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Colby is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Colby 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Colby over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 12.06%, while the most recent rate stands at 7.09%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 7.09%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 12.03% and for women is 12.08%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Colby have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 22.52% | 22.04% | 22.95% |
| 2016-17 | 18.71% -3.81% |
18.99% -3.05% |
18.49% -4.46% |
| 2017-18 | 15.79% -2.92% |
16.19% -2.80% |
15.43% -3.05% |
| 2018-19 | 13.06% -2.73% |
12.30% -3.90% |
13.73% -1.70% |
| 2019-20 | 9.67% -3.39% |
9.31% -2.99% |
9.99% -3.75% |
| 2020-21 | 10.27% 0.60% |
10.48% 1.17% |
10.10% 0.11% |
| 2021-22 | 9.00% -1.27% |
9.00% -1.47% |
9.00% -1.10% |
| 2022-23 | 7.61% -1.39% |
7.71% -1.30% |
7.54% -1.46% |
| 2023-24 | 6.83% -0.78% |
6.97% -0.74% |
6.70% -0.83% |
| 2024-25 | 7.09% 0.26% |
7.35% 0.38% |
6.85% 0.14% |
| Average | 12.06% | 12.03% | 12.08% |
Colby has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 29.71% in 2015 to 46.18% in 2025, representing a 55.44% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 39.94%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Colby from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 55.44% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 29.71% | 31.68% | 28.03% |
| 2016-17 | 27.72% -1.99% |
27.84% -3.84% |
27.61% -0.42% |
| 2017-18 | 31.24% 3.52% |
32.08% 4.24% |
30.45% 2.84% |
| 2018-19 | 36.07% 4.83% |
38.68% 6.59% |
34.00% 3.55% |
| 2019-20 | 39.73% 3.66% |
41.27% 2.59% |
38.49% 4.49% |
| 2020-21 | 39.58% -0.15% |
43.11% 1.85% |
36.48% -2.01% |
| 2021-22 | 47.02% 7.44% |
46.95% 3.83% |
47.97% 11.49% |
| 2022-23 | 52.33% 5.31% |
55.50% 8.55% |
49.72% 1.75% |
| 2023-24 | 49.79% -2.54% |
50.76% -4.74% |
48.88% -0.84% |
| 2024-25 | 46.18% -3.62% |
47.25% -3.52% |
45.07% -3.80% |
| Average | 39.94% | 41.51% | 38.67% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 13,816, the average number of admitted is 1,496, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 582.
The number of Colby applicants increased by 7.88% (1,401 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 152.69% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Colby College from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 7,593 | 1,710 | 508 |
| 2016-17 | 9,833 29.50% |
1,840 7.60% |
510 0.39% |
| 2017-18 | 11,190 13.80% |
1,767 -3.97% |
552 8.24% |
| 2018-19 | 12,313 10.04% |
1,608 -9.00% |
580 5.07% |
| 2019-20 | 13,584 10.32% |
1,314 -18.28% |
522 -10.00% |
| 2020-21 | 13,922 2.49% |
1,430 8.83% |
566 8.43% |
| 2021-22 | 15,857 13.90% |
1,427 -0.21% |
671 18.55% |
| 2022-23 | 16,890 6.51% |
1,286 -9.88% |
673 0.30% |
| 2023-24 | 17,786 5.30% |
1,215 -5.52% |
605 -10.10% |
| 2024-25 | 19,187 7.88% |
1,360 11.93% |
628 3.80% |
| Average | 13,816 | 1,496 | 582 |
The following table compares Colby College' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colby College | 6.83% | 7.09% | 3.81% |
| Unity Environmental University | - | 81.80% | -100.00% |
| University of New England | 91.63% | 88.84% | 3.14% |
| Husson University | 80.95% | 86.43% | -6.34% |
| Bowdoin College | 7.13% | 8.02% | -11.10% |
| Bates College | 13.32% | 13.02% | 2.30% |
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