Hamilton College
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $74,300 within 10 years; exceptional 91% graduation rate.
About This School
Hamilton College is a private nonprofit institution located in Clinton, New York with approximately 2,030 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 14%. The average net price after financial aid is $28,985 per year. The graduation rate is 91%, and the typical graduate earns $74,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college in Kirkland, New York, with a Clinton postal address. It was established as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1793 and received its charter as Hamilton College in 1812, in honor of Alexander Hamilton, one of its inaugural trustees, following a proposal made after his death in 1804. Since 1978, Hamilton has been a coeducational institution, having merged with its sister school, Kirkland College.
This is a strong option for students who thrive in a small, discussion-driven liberal arts environment — a 96% freshman retention rate signals that students who get in tend to be genuinely happy once they're there. At 12% acceptance, admission is highly selective, but the financial picture is surprisingly manageable: median debt at graduation is just $15,015, well below the national average, and median earnings of $74,300 a decade out suggest the degree holds real value. If you want a tight-knit intellectual community in a rural upstate New York setting and can handle the competitive admissions process, Hamilton deserves serious consideration.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 32% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Hamilton College graduates earn most above the national rate in Economics ($130,633 vs $82,686 nationally), and most below it in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies ($42,806 vs $48,471).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 97 | $130,633 | $82,686 | +$47,947 |
| Mathematics | 53 | $83,211 | $69,562 | +$13,649 |
| Political Science and Government | 30 | $88,019 | $63,293 | +$24,726 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 25 | $64,585 | $66,596 | −$2,011 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 15 | $42,806 | $48,471 | −$5,665 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,030 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Hamilton College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Hamilton College?
Hamilton College has an acceptance rate of 14%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Hamilton College hard to get into?
Yes. With an acceptance rate of 14%, Hamilton College is highly selective, so strong grades, a rigorous course load, and a standout application matter.
How much does Hamilton College cost?
The average net price at Hamilton College is about $28,985 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Hamilton College?
Hamilton College has a graduation rate of 91%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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