Waterville, Maine · ★ — / 5 Overall

Colby Mariam / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Private not-for-profit · 4-year · Bachelor's
Colby College is a private liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine, United States. Founded in 1813 as the Maine Literary and Theological Institution, it was renamed Waterville College in 1821. The donations of philanthropist Gardner Colby saw the institution renamed again to Colby University before settling on its current name, reflecting its liberal arts college curriculum, in 1899. Approximately 2,400 students, representing more than 45 states and 80 countries, are enrolled annually. The college offers 58 major fields of study and 38 minors. Located in central Maine, the 714-acre Neo-Georgian campus sits atop Mayflower Hill and overlooks downtown Waterville and the Kennebec River Valley. Along with fellow Maine institutions Bates College and Bowdoin College, Colby competes in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium.
Best Athletic Facilities
Ranked #1 in Best Athletic Facilities (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Students Get Outside
Ranked #6 in Students Get Outside (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Most Accessible Professors
Ranked #19 in Most Accessible Professors (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Unfiltered student reviews about the real
experience at this University
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4000 Mayflower Hill Drive, Waterville, Maine, 04901-8840
Visit University SiteGreen Colleges
Ranked #23 in Green Colleges (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
National Liberal Arts Colleges
Ranked #24 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (2026). Source: US News ↗
Liberal Arts Colleges
Ranked #29 in Liberal Arts Colleges (2025). Source: Washington Monthly ↗
National rank
Ranked #71 in Forbes Top Colleges (2026). Source: Forbes ↗
Value rank
Ranked #141 on Washington Monthly Best Bang for the Buck (2025). Source: WM Best Value ↗
25th–75th percentile
SAT total: 1440–1550
SAT ERW: 710–760
SAT math: 730–790
ACT composite: 32–34
Total: 2,284
Undergrad: 2,284
Undergrad full-time: 2,282
Part-time: 2
In-state
Tuition: $66,600
Total cost on campus: $85,420
Out-of-state
Tuition: $66,600
Total cost on campus: $85,420
Room & board: $17,120
Books & supplies: $850
Receive aid: 48%
Avg grant aid: $66,387
Pell grant recipients: 11%
Rent: $684 / mo
Average city asking rent, as a roommate share. Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Coffee: $5.00
State average cafe price. Numbeo, 2024.
Gas: $4.43 / gal
State average price. AAA.
Average meal: $13.10
Published board plan, per meal. IPEDS.