At $23,939/yr net price, Colby College graduates earn $80,490/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $46,490/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $23,939 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $95,756 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $80,490/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$46,490/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.1 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 90.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,157 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,072/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $1,331/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $2,247/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,937/yr |
| $110,001+ | $52,893/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | Bachelor | $57,995 | $24,250 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor | $47,118 | $27,000 |
| Anthropology. | Bachelor | $44,971 | |
| International/Global Studies. | Bachelor | $42,682 | |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $41,193 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $38,289 | |
| Area Studies. | Bachelor | $33,993 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $30,771 |
The Risk Factor
90.2% of students at Colby College graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Colby College gives you a strong return, but the math depends heavily on your family income. The $80,490 median earnings at ten years sits well above the $19,157 median debt, and with a 90% graduation rate you're likely to actually finish and collect that payoff. Low debt plus high completion is the combination that makes a private-college price defensible.
Among the programs listed, economics is the clear winner, with early-career pay roughly $17,000 above English or international studies graduates. The liberal-arts majors here,anthropology, political science, English,cluster in the low-to-mid $40,000s early on, which is respectable for those fields but slower to pay back the debt that comes with them. Political science carries the highest program debt on the list at $27,000 while earning less than economics, so that pairing is the weakest value if you're borrowing.
The main financial risk is the sticker price if you don't qualify for need-based aid. Waterville, Maine is a small market, so the humanities majors here point you toward graduate school or jobs elsewhere to hit that $80,490 median, and the early numbers show it takes time to get there.
The income tiers tell the real story. If your family earns under $75,000, Colby is close to free,you'd pay between $1,331 and $6,072 a year, less than most public schools. That makes it an excellent choice for lower-income families. But above $110,000, you pay $52,893 a year with no discount, and at that price the return depends entirely on picking a high-earning path like economics. If you're a full-pay family drawn to the lower-earning humanities majors here, run the numbers carefully before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colby College worth the cost for most students?
Colby College graduates earn $80,490 ten years after graduation, which is solid but not exceptional given the school's selectivity. The economics program produces the strongest returns at $58,000, while liberal arts majors like English average just $41,000.
What is the financial aid like at Colby College?
Colby brings the average net price down to $23,939 per year through generous financial aid. Most graduates leave with manageable debt of around $19,000, making the financial burden reasonable for a selective liberal arts college.
Which Colby College programs have the best job prospects?
Economics majors at Colby earn the highest salaries at $58,000, while political science graduates make $47,000. Liberal arts majors like anthropology and English see significantly lower earnings in the $41,000-$45,000 range.
Does Colby College justify its competitive admission standards financially?
With a 7.6% acceptance rate and 1485 average SAT, Colby is highly selective but graduate earnings don't fully match the admission difficulty. The 90% graduation rate is excellent, though many comparable schools produce higher-earning graduates.