Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college on a 1,350-acre campus in Hamilton, NY, “situated on a hilltop overlooking the picturesque village of Clinton. The College is eight miles southwest of Utica, 45 minutes east of Syracuse, one hour from the Adirondack Park.”
Basic Facts
- 1,879 undergraduates from 49 states and 49 countries.
- 29% of students come from outside New York, 71% in-state students.
- 9:1 student to faculty ratio.
- One-third of classes have 9 or fewer students; three quarters have 19 or fewer.
- 56 areas of study including 43 minors.
The Hamilton Promise
- Study What You Love. Hamilton is one of four highly selective colleges with an open curriculum, allowing students to explore whatever they want. Students say that this “raises the bar of intellectual discourse” as they find themselves in a class with students equally as passionate about the subject as they are. This engagement and excitement in the classroom also spills over into the community where students share their ideas and perspectives with other students in an organic way.
- Be Who You Are. Students and admissions staff say there is no typical or “cookie cutter” student at Hamilton. Students explore and pursue many different interests including those offered by more than 200 organizations and clubs on campus.
- Find Your Future. Hamilton promises that students will gain the knowledge, confidence and skills to be successful in life. This includes being assigned a career services counselor beginning on day 1 and having access to an extremely engaged and accessible alumni network. Within one month of graduation, 95% of students are placed in graduate school or other jobs.
The Hamilton Community
- All students live in 26 residences on campus making Hamilton a vibrant residential community.
- 1,000 events were held on campus in the most recent academic year.
- Last summer $250,000 was awarded to students to conduct research on campus.
- A new Health Services and Counseling Center will open for the class of 2022, expanding health services and mental health counseling on campus.
- Restaurants, bars, and local shops are only minutes away in the quaint Village of Clinton.
Admissions Information
- 6,240 applications for fall 2018—a 10% increase over the previous year.
- 20 percent acceptance rate.
- Average ACT score (middle 50%) 33; average SAT score (middle 50% 1440-1460).
- Offers prospective students an optional alumni interview
- Personal essay is still an important part of the admissions process including the college’s “Why Hamilton” supplemental essay.
- Hamilton remains need blind in its admission decisions and has worked to expand its need-based financial aid capabilities.
- College does not offer merit scholarships.
- Average need-based financial aid package is over $45K.
- Admissions options: EDI and EDII binding and regular decision.