About

See what students say:

Academics

Colby College boasts “extraordinarily strong” and “challenging” academics taught by “incredible,” “brilliant,” and “engaging,” faculty. Students also praise the “many outlets of student support” ranging from “student led-peer groups,” resources from the “Health Center, which includes free counseling services,” and “tutoring and help centers for students who need support with their work.” Professors often lead “Socratic-style” class discussions and professors utilize campus and other nearby assets in their teaching so that you are as likely to have a biology class held at Colby’s Museum of Art as you are to venture on an art course within the beauteous Acadia National Park. “I’ve had an English professor bring us to the 3D printing lab to think of ideas about how to bring words to life physically,” one student said. “Colby wants you to learn in a manner where you feel you’ll be most interested in the material.” The environmental science and policy classes are major at Colby, and make use of a campus arboretum in addition to local “lakes, ponds, and forests” for field research. And the new “Mule Works Innovation Lab” offers students access to “3D printing, lasers and much more,” an example of how “Colby attempts to give all students the same opportunities with technology despite their major as well as keeping up to date with emerging advances in technology.” Students note that even beyond facilities, Colby is staying ahead of the game by valuing faculty research into “emerging fields such as the digital humanities and environmental humanities.” The school’s “JanPlan” offers opportunities for students to take the January term and undertake “field study in Uganda,” or experiment in classes like “Critical Race, Feminism, and Tap Dancing.” Colby also provides “ample research opportunities to their students across all disciplines.” Says one student, “If you want to really be engaged in learning and the production of knowledge, Colby is the place for you.”

Student Body

Colby students tend to be “high-achievers” with a “love of the outdoors,” and are “gregarious,” “preppy,” and “adventurous.” Many students are “politically active, and generally care about social issues.” Students assess their peers as “smart but humble”: “it’s not a super competitive environment,” but their peers are “definitely at an elite liberal arts college for a reason.” Students are involved in a number of activities that “range from varsity sports to volunteering, to humanities clubs.” Most students are described as coming from “WASP-y” and “wealthy” backgrounds. Others say that students as a whole are “very athletic,” with “many of them on varsity sports teams.”

Campus Life

Students uniformly praise the “great facilities,” including a nearly-completed athletic center and “extremely comfortable dorms.” Students put academics first: after class, most students study “in the libraries, rooms, or common spaces.” There are plenty of special events and extracurricular activities on campus to fill the time, with “talks,” “athletic events,” and “student performances.” Colby has a particularly strong outdoorsy and active student culture, with weekends bringing students into the surrounding areas for active adventures. The “beautiful” Maine location means it’s “not uncommon for people to do day hikes or head to the beach if it’s nice out.” “Outing Club” runs trips every weekend, and in the winter many head to Sugarloaf for “skiing or snowboarding.” Students less inclined to go camping or hiking can head into cities like Augusta, Portland, or Camden. During the spring, people “lounge on Miller lawn,” and the “beautiful campus” allows students to “enjoy pleasant walks around campus.”

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Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Carol Wynne/Martha Reinhardt
Receptionists

Address
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
4800 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME 04901-8848

Phone
207-859-4800

Email
welcome@colby.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Museum of Art: lounge, sculpture terrace, evening concerts and events
Pulver Pavilion (student center): snack bar, big-screen TV, lounges
The Street: study lounge open 24/7 in lower level of library
Perkins Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary: 8.5-mile Campbell Trails
Fitness center at the athletic complex
Comprising five wings, nearly 8,000 works, and more than 38,000 square feet of exhibition space, the Colby College Museum of Art is considered the finest college art museum in the country. Opened in 2014, the Davis Science Center features state-of-the-art equipment, including a robotics lab, for computer science, psychology, and mathematics. A national leader in sustainability and environmental education, Colby was the fourth higher-education institution in the country to achieve carbon neutrality.

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Waterville Main Street: Jorgensen's Cafe, Selah Tea, Thai Bistro
Hume Center: college-owned lakefront in Belgrade Lakes Region
Railroad Square Cinema: three-screen indie theater in Waterville
Big G's: sandwich shop in Winslow
Quarry Road Recreation Area: nearby FIS Nordic ski trails with snowmaking
The Maine coast, Sugarloaf ski area, Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin, whitewater rafting, and Portland's Old Port are all popular day trips from campus.

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
Varies
8:30am-4:30pm; 8:30-1p.m. Saturday
207-859-4800

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: No
Dates: Varies
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Varies; advanced notice 1 day or more

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact the Coach or Admissions

Advance Notice
Other

Contact Email Address for Visit
welcome@colby.edu or athletics@colby.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Available

Arrangements
Other

Limitations
April for accepted seniors

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Concord Coach Lines provides regularly scheduled bus service from campus to Augusta, Portland, Boston, and Logan airport. The Augusta State Airport is 18 miles from campus. Most people fly to the Portland International Jetport, an hour and 15 minute drive from Colby. Limo and shuttle services (800-499-0663) connect Waterville and Portland.

Driving Instructions to Campus
Take I-95 to Exit 127. Follow the signs off the exit ramp to get to Colby. See http://www.colby.edu/directions for detailed directions.

Local Accommodations
Please visit http://www.colby.edu/visitors/accommodations-around-colby-college/ for accommodations in Waterville, Belgrade Lakes, Augusta, and other nearby towns.
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Admissions

Applicants: 12,313
Acceptance Rate: 13%






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