Hamilton College
Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college in the village of Clinton, in the foothills of the Adirondacks in central New York. With about 1,980 students and a 9-to-1 student-faculty ratio, Hamilton is known for its open curriculum — there are no distribution requirements — paired with a rigorous writing and quantitative-reasoning program every student must complete. Admission is highly selective: Hamilton admitted roughly 13.6% of nearly 8,900 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years who submitted scores posted middle-50% SATs of 1440–1510 and 33–35 on the ACT. The social sciences are the most-conferred field, and Hamilton is test-optional and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.
See how Hamilton compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Hamilton admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Hamilton offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~2.4× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Hamilton is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Hamilton's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 18.41% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Hamilton does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Hamilton weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Hamilton's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Hamilton application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Hamilton and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Hamilton admissions
Is it hard to get into Hamilton College?＋
Yes — Hamilton is highly selective, admitting about 13.6% of applicants in the most recent cycle, roughly 1,210 offers out of nearly 8,900 applications, with about 478 first-years enrolling. The rigor of your high school record, academic GPA, and class rank are all weighed as very important factors, and among enrolled students who reported a rank, about 86% were in the top tenth of their class.
What is Hamilton's Early Decision acceptance rate, and does applying ED help?＋
Applying Early Decision improves your odds: Hamilton admitted about 28% of its ED pool — 315 of 1,120 binding Early Decision applications — versus the 13.6% overall rate. Hamilton runs two binding rounds, ED I and ED II, so committing early is a meaningful signal if Hamilton is your clear first choice.
Does Hamilton require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Hamilton is test-optional, so you can apply without submitting scores and standardized test scores are only 'considered' in the review. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1440–1510 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT, so a submitted score in that band helps rather than hurts.
Is a 1490 SAT good enough for Hamilton?＋
Yes — a 1490 sits comfortably inside Hamilton's middle 50% of 1440–1510 for enrolled first-years who submitted scores, just above the median of about 1480. More than 90% of enrolled scorers were in the 1400–1600 range. Because Hamilton is test-optional, a 1490 is worth submitting, but the rigor of your transcript still carries the most weight.
What GPA and class rank do you need to get into Hamilton?＋
Hamilton does not publish an average admitted GPA, but its class sits at the very top of the high school cohort — among enrolled first-years who reported a class rank, about 86% were in the top tenth and nearly 98% in the top quarter of their graduating class. There is no hard cutoff, but academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your course load are all weighed as very important factors.
Does the application essay matter at Hamilton?＋
Yes. Hamilton rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review — above standardized test scores, which are only 'considered' — alongside recommendations and personal character. With a 13.6% acceptance rate and a test-optional policy that shifts weight onto the rest of the file, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways to stand out.
How much does Hamilton cost, and does it meet full financial need?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $75,960 per year, with the total cost of attendance higher once housing and food (about $19,290) are added. Hamilton meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; about 58% of first-years receive need-based grant or scholarship aid, with an average need-based package near $70,010.
What are the most popular majors at Hamilton?＋
The social sciences are by far the most popular area at about 29% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the biological sciences (14%), mathematics and statistics (8%), and computer and information science (6%). Foreign languages and the visual and performing arts round out the most-conferred fields, reflecting the breadth of Hamilton's open curriculum, which carries no distribution requirements.
Source: Hamilton College Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Hamilton. Banner photo by Kenneth C. Zirkel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).