Hamilton College

Clinton, NY · Private nonprofit · Midsize suburb · Website

Admission rate: 14%; Very selective
Average net price: $25,793; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 90%
Median earnings: $84,956; 10 years after enrolling

Hamilton College is a private nonprofit college in Clinton, NY with 2,030 undergraduates. It admits 14% of applicants, and admitted students average 1506 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $25,793 per year ($13,679 for families earning under $30,000). 90% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $84,956 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 14%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 9,643; Fall 2023
Admitted: 1,135; Fall 2023
Yield: 41%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing720–770

200800

SAT Math730–780

200800

ACT Composite33–35

136

What Hamilton College looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $88,270; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $72,690

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$13,679
$30–48k$4,407
$48–75k$14,749
$75–110k$20,025
$110k+$40,520

Get a personal estimate with Hamilton College's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 90%
Freshman retention: 95%
Median earnings: $84,956; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $15,000; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 2,030
Student–faculty ratio: 9:1
Receive Pell grants: 20%

White62%
Hispanic10%
Black3%
Asian9%

Hamilton College FAQ

What is Hamilton College's acceptance rate?+

Hamilton College admits 14% of applicants, which makes it very selective.

What SAT score do you need for Hamilton College?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 720–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 730–780 on SAT Math; the average total is 1506.

What ACT score do you need for Hamilton College?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 33–35.

Is Hamilton College test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Hamilton College?+

In Fall 2023, 9,643 students applied to Hamilton College and 1,135 were admitted; 462 enrolled.

Does Hamilton College consider legacy status?+

Yes. Hamilton College reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Hamilton College require an essay?+

Hamilton College reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Hamilton College cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $88,270 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,793.

What is Hamilton College's graduation rate?+

90% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 191515 · How we use this data