Colby Launches Graduate School Partnerships with University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
The initiative offers conditional admission to master’s programs, underscoring the exceptional quality of a Colby education
Colby has rolled out a new initiative that streamlines pathways to top-tier graduate programs at the time of admission.
Beginning this fall, a group of 25 incoming first-year students will arrive on Mayflower Hill with an option in place for their post-graduate plans. Through a formalized partnership with the University of Chicago, these students were invited into the UChicago Advanced Scholars program, which conditionally admitted them to master’s degree programs at the same time they were accepted to Colby.
Colby has finalized a similar agreement with the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE), offering 14 master’s pathways. The Penn GSE partnership will begin in the 2027 academic year with a cohort of 10 to 15 students.
The new partnerships serve as a powerful endorsement of a Colby education, said Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Randi Maloney ’09. “Our rigorous curriculum, world-class faculty, and high-caliber admissions program ensure our students are highly sought candidates for the world’s top graduate programs,” she said.
These twin initiatives allow designated students to bypass the traditional graduate application process. Selected students must meet strict stipulations and maintain high levels of academic and personal achievement throughout their four years at Colby to retain their conditional admission status.
Students in the University of Chicago Advanced Scholars program will have access to virtual programming throughout their undergraduate years and will receive a one-time $5,000 scholarship upon matriculation into their designated master’s program.
With one year of additional study following their graduation from Colby, students can choose from 18 master’s degrees, including an M.S. in biomedical sciences, M.S. in precision health, M.A. in public policy, M.S. in climate and energy policy, M.S. in applied data science, master’s in finance, and master’s in management through the Booth School of Business.
The University of Chicago’s graduate programs have produced more than 100 Nobel laureates, and the university’s graduate school divisions hold a reputation as a powerhouse for academic research and professional training.
Similarly, Penn GSE is one of the top graduate schools of education in the United States and has maintained a dominant position in national rankings because of its research and practical training. The master’s programs available through Penn GSE will include interdisciplinary studies in human development, education policy, urban education, international education development, and statistics, measurement, assessment, and research technology.
Penn GSE will also offer cohort students activities throughout their time at Colby, including campus visits, access to workshops, program updates, and alumni and career services engagement.
‘Our rigorous curriculum, world-class faculty, and high-caliber admissions program ensure our students are highly sought candidates for the world’s top graduate programs.’
Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Randi Maloney ’09
Most prerequisites for these advanced degrees are satisfied by Colby’s existing major requirements. To guide them through the process, students will receive dedicated support from DavisConnects, ensuring they meet all program requirements while in Waterville.
The goal of the partnerships is to build a consistent pipeline of talented undergraduate students who apply to and enroll in renowned master’s programs after Colby, Maloney said.
In addition to the new programs with the Pennsylvania GSE and the University of Chicago, Colby has active dual-degree agreements with Dartmouth College and Columbia University, allowing students to earn both a Colby degree and an engineering degree from one of the partner institutions. Typically, the programs admit eight to 10 students each year.
“There is no better foundation than a liberal arts education for preparing students to enter a rapidly changing world,” noted Maloney. “For talented and ambitious students, these programs offer an unparalleled opportunity to combine Colby’s extraordinary resources and rigorous academic offerings with a top-tier graduate program that can propel their futures further.”
