A new way to tour Colby
A typical Colby tour can feel impersonal, leaving you with more questions than answers. You’re just a face in the crowd following a scripted tour led by a guide the school assigns you.
SchoolScoops offers private Colby College tours tailored to your interests. Choose your own Colby student tour guide and enjoy a personalized campus visit where you'll get candid answers to your questions.
SchoolScoops is the more personal way to tour Colby College
Private and personalized Colby tours
On a traditional Colby College campus tour you’re just a number in a big group. With SchoolScoops, you can book a private Colby College tour led by a real Colby student, giving you a personalized campus visit and the chance to ask all the questions that are important to you.
Choose your own tour guide
Unlike a traditional Colby College campus tour, SchoolScoops lets you choose your own tour guide. Whether you want to meet an engineering major, a student-athlete or a fellow transfer student, you'll get authentic insights and advice from someone who truly gets you.
No scripts, just scoops
Traditional Colby College campus tours are essentially a sales pitch—the tour guide works for the school and their job is to show you the highlights. SchoolScoops guides don’t work for their school, so there’s no sales pitch—just honest, unfiltered advice about the Colby experience.
Find out if Colby is the school for you
Choosing where to go to college is a major decision and a huge investment. A private Colby tour helps you decide if Colby College is the right fit for your academic goals, career ambitions and college experience.
Can't make it to campus?
Book a 1-on-1 video chat with a Colby student for personalized insights. Learn about academics, campus culture, and Waterville life without leaving home.
Book a video chat
Book a 1-on-1 video chat with a Colby student for personalized insights. Learn about academics, campus culture, and Waterville life without leaving home.
Get to know Colby College
Colby College is a top-ranked private liberal arts institution known for excellence across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary learning, hands-on research, community engagement, and addressing global challenges.
Overview
Colby College, founded in 1813, is a private liberal arts college located in Waterville, Maine. It offers a wide range of undergraduate programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and experiential opportunities.
Size
Colby College has a total enrollment of approximately 2,300 students, all of whom are undergraduates, fostering a close-knit and highly engaged academic community.
Acceptance rate
Colby College has an acceptance rate of around 8%, making it one of the most selective liberal arts colleges in the nation. Among admitted students who submitted test scores, half scored between 1430–1530 on the SAT or 33–35 on the ACT, though Colby is test-optional.
Cost
For the 2024 academic year, Colby College’s undergraduate tuition is approximately $66,000, with total costs including housing and meals exceeding $80,000. However, Colby meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, and about 40% of students receive financial aid, with an average need-based award of over $60,000.
Ranking
According to U.S. News & World Report, Colby College is ranked #21 among National Liberal Arts Colleges. Rankings are based on widely recognized measures of academic quality, including graduation rates, faculty resources, and student outcomes.
Academics
Colby College offers more than 60 majors and minors across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. It maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, fostering close mentorship, personalized learning, and strong academic engagement.
Traditions
Colby College’s most cherished traditions include the annual Doghead celebration around St. Patrick’s Day, Winter Carnival, and Mayflower Hill Day, which bring the campus community together. Another beloved tradition is the longstanding athletic rivalry with Bowdoin and Bates, highlighted during CBB games.
Campus landmarks
Colby College’s most iconic landmarks include the historic Miller Library with its distinctive clock tower, the Colby Museum of Art, the Bixler Art and Music Center, the scenic Mayflower Hill campus, and the expansive Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center—all showcasing the college’s blend of tradition, innovation, and natural beauty.
Student body
Over 90% of Colby College students come from outside Maine, with the student body representing nearly all 50 states and more than 70 countries, reflecting Colby’s strong commitment to geographic and cultural diversity.
Become a SchoolScoops guide
In college? Earn $40/hour hosting 1-on-1 campus tours and video chats with future students.
Become a guideYour Colby College questions, answered
What are Colby's most popular majors?
Leading fields include Econometrics & Quantitative Economics, Political Science, Computer Science, Psychology, and Environmental Science.
Is Colby College a Division I school?
Colby College competes in NCAA Division III as a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Known as the Mules, Colby’s student-athletes excel both on and off the field, balancing competitive athletics with rigorous academics.
Is Colby College in the Ivy League?
Colby is not part of the Ivy League, but it’s a highly selective liberal arts college often considered one of the “Little Ivies” for its academic excellence.
What is the male-to-female ratio at Colby College?
As of fall 2023, Colby College had about 2,282 undergraduate students, with a gender distribution of roughly 49% male and 51% female, reflecting a well-balanced student population.
Does Colby College have Greek life?
Colby College eliminated fraternities and sororities in 1984 due to concerns about discrimination and campus culture. While informal social groups may exist, there is no officially recognized Greek life on campus.
What city is near Colby College?
Colby College is located in Waterville, Maine, overlooking the Kennebec River Valley. It’s about an hour from both Maine’s scenic coastline and the mountains, as well as 60 minutes from Portland, the state’s largest city.
What major is Colby College known for?
Colby is best known for majors like Economics, Political Science, Neuroscience, Computer Science, International Studies, Psychology, Biology, Environmental Science, Creative Writing, and English, which are among the most popular and highly regarded programs.
How do you take a tour of Colby College?
Visit the Colby admissions website, choose an available date, and register. Tours are led by current students and admissions staff, and pre-registration is required.
Does Colby College offer private campus tours?
Yes, through SchoolScoops, you can book a private campus tour led by a student guide of your choice.
Interested in other schools?
SchoolScoops also offers tours and video chats at many other schools
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