Class of 2027 Admitted to Colby

The College offers admission to its most diverse and academically talented class of first-year students

By Bob KeyesPhotography by Gabe Souza

March 27, 2023

Colby has offered admission to 1,142 students to the Class of 2027, with selections made from a pool of nearly 17,800 candidates. The College admitted 6 percent of students who applied from the most competitive applicant pool in Colby’s history.

“Our admissions committee was extraordinarily impressed by the breadth of talent, resilience, and achievements displayed by our applicants this year,” said Molly B. Hodgkins ’15, assistant dean and director of enrollment management. “We look forward to seeing the impact they will have on our community and the world in the years to come.”

This year’s admitted class represents 50 states plus the District of Columbia, 75 countries, and nearly 750 high schools. Approximately 13 percent are international citizens. Among students from the United States, 48 percent self-identify as students of color.

Academically, the group is exceptional; 92 percent are expected to graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class. The median SAT is a 1510, and the median ACT is a 34.

The students and their families will benefit from Colby’s nationally recognized financial aid programs, including the Colby Commitment, which promises to meet 100 percent of each admitted student’s demonstrated financial need without loans. Colby guarantees parents or guardians will pay $0 if they have an income of $75,000 or less, approximately the median household income in the U.S., and assets typical of that range. Last year, Colby introduced the Weiland Welcome Grant, which will provide $1,250 in addition to financial aid for expenses associated with necessary school items to eligible first-year students.

In addition, admitted students whose parents and guardians earn up to $150,000 in total household income and have typical assets qualify for the Fair Shot Fund, capping the parent and guardian contribution at $15,000 annually and often making a Colby education more affordable than attending a public institution.

“Financial aid continues to be a critically important part of our efforts to admit the most talented students from all backgrounds,” said Randi Maloney ’09, assistant vice president of admission and financial aid and dean of admissions. “Our admissions and financial aid team is thrilled to celebrate this extraordinary group of students, and we look forward to the work ahead as they consider Colby.”

The incoming students will arrive during a time of transformation and forward progress. The Paul J. Schupf Art Center, a hub for the visual and performing arts and community engagement, recently opened in downtown Waterville, and the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts will open in August, becoming the largest academic building project in College history.

Members of the Class of 2027 will have every opportunity to pursue personalized academic interests while receiving the benefit of a broad liberal arts education. The newly established Lyons Art Lab will offer a platform for students interested in the arts to create and stage new films, plays, musical compositions, and other creative endeavors. The Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship will prepare them to be effective innovators and entrepreneurs. The Buck Lab for Climate and Environment supports climate-change and other environmental initiatives, including student research and experiential learning, across disciplines. The Linde Packman Lab for Biosciences Innovation prepares students to become the next generation of science leaders and innovators.

Colby’s Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence allows students to apply their broad-based liberal arts thinking to issues related to artificial intelligence and machine learning. Through DavisConnects and external College partnerships, Colby ensures that all students, regardless of financial background or personal networks, have access to funded internships, research opportunities, and global experiences.

The College also recently established the Island Campus in midcoast Maine, offering Colby students unique and timely cross-discipline research opportunities in a range of academic programs, including the marine sciences and the arts.

Colby students have access to the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center, the most advanced D-III athletic facility in the country, and the Colby College Museum of Art and its renowned collection of art, including the Lunder Collection, that serves as a teaching tool across the curriculum.

“The Class of 2027 is well poised to take advantage of the incredible depth and breadth of opportunities made available to Colby students,” said Tori Neason, assistant dean and director of admissions. “For these multi-talented students, the College presents a unique academic community—a resource-rich environment that will both challenge and support them—as they grow into leaders that will impact the world in countless positive ways.”