Location
- Colby College
- Waterville, ME
- Vanderbilt University
- Nashville, TN
Colby College vs Vanderbilt University
Waterville, ME · Nashville, TN · largest Scorecard gap: median debt at graduation
Scorecard match plate
Pair ME:TN
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-PAR · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-DEBT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE ME × TN
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-PAR Net near-par
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-DEBT Largest gap · Median Debt at Graduation
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · wide · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both grew, one campus expanded much faster
ENROLL-RACE · wide · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both Colby College and Vanderbilt University across 2013–2023, with a wide pace gap, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides. Growth plus a shared selectivity squeeze is the board's distinctive shape.
- Colby College: enrollment grew +25.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +54 students/yr fitted, r² 0.93.
- Vanderbilt University: enrollment grew +5.1% over 2013–2023; fitted +38 students/yr fitted, r² 0.82.
- Colby College: acceptance rate tightened -73.8% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.92).
- Vanderbilt University: acceptance rate tightened -50.7% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.81).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Colby College
- 2,407
- Vanderbilt University
- 7,208
Median Debt at Graduation
- Colby College
- $19,157
- Vanderbilt University
- $14,000
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Colby College
- $60,052
- Vanderbilt University
- $73,909
Acceptance Rate
- Colby College
- 7.1%
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Colby College
- $80,490
- Vanderbilt University
- $91,565
Avg Net Price
- Colby College
- $17,180
- Vanderbilt University
- $15,846
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Colby College
- 91.7%
- Vanderbilt University
- 86.0%
150%-Time Completion
- Colby College
- 89.5%
- Vanderbilt University
- 93.1%
SAT Average
- Colby College
- 1,501
- Vanderbilt University
- 1,549
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Colby College Waterville, ME | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Waterville, ME | Nashville, TN |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 2,407 | 7,208 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,157 | $14,000 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $60,052 | $73,909 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.1% | 5.9% |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $80,490 | $91,565 |
| Avg Net Price | $17,180 | $15,846 |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 91.7% | 86.0% |
| 150%-Time Completion | 89.5% | 93.1% |
| SAT Average | 1,501 | 1,549 |
Largest gaps: Colby College vs Vanderbilt University
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Vanderbilt University leads on median debt at graduation ($14,000 vs $19,157 at Colby College)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Vanderbilt University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($73,909 vs $60,052 at Colby College)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Vanderbilt University leads on acceptance rate (5.9% vs 7.1% at Colby College)
Colby College profile · Vanderbilt University profile · Compare other colleges
Median Debt at Graduation and other Scorecard questions
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Colby College and Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt University leads on median debt at graduation at $14,000 versus $19,157 at Colby College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Colby College and Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $73,909 versus $60,052 at Colby College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Colby College and Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt University leads on acceptance rate at 5.9% versus 7.1% at Colby College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); median debt at graduation focus for this pair · 2025