What Colby College is like

What it's like

Colby is a selective residential liberal arts college with a tight-knit community of about 2,400 students on a 714-acre Neo-Georgian campus in central Maine. The college emphasizes project-based learning and maintains nearly universal residential housing, with 96% of undergraduates living on or near campus. The highly competitive admissions process (6% acceptance rate for Class of 2027) attracts academically strong students from across the country and internationally. Students show strong engagement with service: Colby ranks in the top 25 for Peace Corps volunteer production.

Academic feel

Colby's curriculum centers on 48 major fields and 38 minors with significant flexibility for independent study, student-designed majors, and internships. The most popular majors by recent graduates were econometrics and quantitative economics, political science, and computer science. Over two-thirds of students study off-campus before graduation, with access to over 200 programs in 60+ countries. The college emphasizes project-based learning and requires coursework across arts, English, foreign languages, history, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Faculty are highly credentialed: 99% of full-time instructional faculty hold a doctorate or terminal degree. The 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports close mentorship.

Social life

Colby is a dry campus with zero Greek life—0% of students join fraternities or sororities. The residential college model means almost all students live on campus or in downtown housing, fostering an integrated community. The college offers a robust range of student organizations including choral groups, drama, musical ensembles, orchestra, student government, newspaper, radio station, and campus ministries. On-campus housing includes themed options and special housing for students with disabilities and international students.

What you should consider

Colby attracts and admits academically exceptional students: 68% of admitted freshmen ranked in the top tenth of their high school class, and 99% were in the top half. The college's strong emphasis on study abroad and off-campus engagement suits students seeking educational experiences beyond the classroom. The residential community and numerous student activities appeal to those who want deep involvement in college life. Service-oriented students benefit from the institution's tradition of Peace Corps leadership. Colby's selective admissions (6% acceptance rate) mean most students are at the top of their academic cohorts. The remote Maine location and cold climate may not suit students seeking urban centers or warmer weather. The absence of Greek life and substance-free residential focus creates a specific social culture that may not appeal to all. With 92% of freshmen from out of state and a diverse international body, in-state or local students are underrepresented.

Strengths

• Strong commitment to sustainability: Colby became one of the first carbon-neutral colleges in the United States in 2013, with 45% of campus (20 buildings) LEED-certified and aggressive composting and water-conservation programs.[1]
• World-class art museum: The Colby College Museum of Art is the largest art museum in Maine with over 40,000 square feet of gallery space and free admission, featuring the Lunder Collection of American Art.[1]
• Extensive library resources with over 1.7 million items including 530,000 e-books and access to 22,000 print and 130,000 electronic periodicals.[1]
• Recent major investment in downtown Waterville: Since 2019, Colby has led an investment of over $250 million in the surrounding community.[1]
• Strong research output across sciences and social sciences, with over 1,000 physics works, 860 economics works, and 860+ works in mathematics and ecology affiliated with the college.[2][3][4][5]

Traditions

• Sigma Kappa sorority, the national organization, was founded at Colby in 1874 by the college's first five female students, making Colby a pioneering institution in coeducation.[6]
• Early leadership on social issues: In 1833, Colby students formed the nation's first college-based anti-slavery society, establishing a tradition of student activism.[1]
• The Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium, officially joined in 1965, creates both athletic rivalry and academic exchange among Maine's three premier liberal arts colleges.[1]