Hamilton College
Clinton, New York · Private · 2,030 undergraduates · hamilton.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
14%
of 8,904 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1440 to 1510
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$101,450Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Hamilton College
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
14% of applicants admitted
Reach
It admits only 14% of applicants, so it's a reach for everyone.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$101,450
a year in 2027-28, from a $101,450 sticker price
What to do with your 1480
Send your score
About 55% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1420, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: Testing Policy - Hamilton College · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov15Early Decision · November 15, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan4Early Decision II · January 4, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan4Regular Decision · January 4, 2027The standard deadline.
- Feb1Other deadline · February 1, 2027
Who gets in
14%
of applicants were admitted: 1,210 of 8,904 for fall 2025.
Early Decision
Binding. 28% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
2,032 students were offered a spot; 49 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 35% of them sent SAT scores and 13% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1440 to 1510
Reading and Writing 710 to 760
Math 710 to 770
ACT composite 33 to 35
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160091%
- 1200 to 13998.4%
- 1000 to 11990.6%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$101,450
a year
- Tuition$78,220
- Fees$780
- Food and housing$20,060
- Books and supplies$830
- Transportation and other$1,560
Hamilton College published $97,550 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$13,679
- $30,001 to $48,000$4,407
- $48,001 to $75,000$14,749
- $75,001 to $110,000$20,025
- Over $110,000$40,520
Financial aid
100%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$66,176
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: 1/15
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
1 of 35
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $7,820Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 5 | 1 | receive 1 credit upon completion of ART 104 or 160 with a minimum grade of a B in the course. |
| African American Studies | 4 | 1 | |
| Art History | 4 | 1 | |
| Biology | 5 | 1 | |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 1 | |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 1 | |
| Chemistry | 5 | 1 | Students having obtained a 5 on the AP exam or 6/7 on the IB exam and who, through their performance on the chemistry placement exam, place into Chemistry 190 will receive 1 credit upon completion of Chemistry 190 as their first course in Chemistry with a minimum grade of C–. If a student places into Chemistry 120 through the placement exam or elects to enroll in CHEM 120 despite placement through the test into 190, no credit will be given. |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | will receive 1 credit upon completion of CHNSE 140 or a higher level Chinese language course with a minimum grade of a B- in the course. |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 5 | 1 | GOVT-112 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | ||
| Drawing | 5 | 1 | receive 1 credit upon completion of ART 104 or 160 with a minimum grade of a B in the course. |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 1 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 1 | |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 1 | |
| European History | 4 | 1 | |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | |
| Human Geography | 4 | 1 | receive 1 credit upon successful completion of ANTHR 113 with a minimum grade of B- in the course. |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | will receive 1 credit upon successful completion of ITALN 130 with a minimum grade of B- in the course. The AP credit will be awarded after completion of 130, regardless of what level a student initially places into. |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | receive one credit upon completion of JAPN 140 with a minimum grade of B- in the course. The initial placement is based on a placement exam by the Japanese Program. Students may be placed into JAPN 130 and still receive AP credit upon completion of JAPN 140. |
| Latin | 4 | 1 | receive 1 credit upon completion of a 300-level Latin course with a minimum grade of B- in the course. Students having obtained a 3 will receive 1 credit upon completion of LATIN 210 with a minimum grade of B- in the course. |
| Macroeconomics | 5 | 1 | |
| Microeconomics | 5 | 1 | |
| Music Theory | 5 | .5 | |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 0 | Students should consult with the department about placement but will not receive course credit. |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 0 | Students should consult with the department about placement but will not receive course credit. |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | Students should consult with the department about placement but will not receive course credit. | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 5 | Students should consult with the department about placement but will not receive course credit. | |
| Psychology | 5 | 1 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 1 | |
| Statistics | 4 | 0 | |
| United States Government and Politics | 5 | 1 | GOVT-116 |
| United States History | 4 | 1 | |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 1 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
90%
Come back for a second year
95%
Typical earnings
$84,956
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Hamilton College$124,594
- All colleges$89,628
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 5 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Hamilton College. The Hamilton College logo is a trademark of the college.