Highly selectiveUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

Colorado College acceptance rate and admissions profile

Colorado College is a private college in Colorado that admits roughly 18% of applicants, which puts it in the highly selective range. A rate like this means it turns away most applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what Colorado College weighs, where it ranks among Colorado schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1440, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
18%
Highly selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1440
of admitted students
Type
Private
Colorado
Selectivity in state
#2
of 16 in CO
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Will I get into Colorado College?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Colorado College, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Colorado College?

At Colorado College, your real chance depends on far more than the published 18% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Colorado College in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Colorado College hard to get into?

Colorado College is highly selective: it turns away most applicants, with about a 18% acceptance rate. Strong academics are expected here, so the rest of your profile usually decides the outcome.

What GPA do you need to get into Colorado College?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Colorado College, but most admitted students present roughly a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA with a rigorous course load. Colorado College reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Colorado College?

Colorado College does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1440. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Colorado College.

Calculate your chances at Colorado College

What Colorado College looks for

What Colorado College weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Colorado College signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay above the rest of the file. At this level of selectivity, the difference between admits is rarely the transcript alone; essays, recommendations, and a coherent story matter. These ratings come from Colorado College's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Very important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Colorado College

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Colorado College
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400In the competitive admitted range
1300Well below the admitted range
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1450 SAT →Colleges for a 32 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Colorado College compares in Colorado

Colorado College ranks #2 most selective of 16 schools in Colorado in our database.

Among the 16 Colorado schools we track, Colorado College ranks #2 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like U.S. Air Force Academy (14%) and Colorado School of Mines (61%) sit nearby, which makes Colorado a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

U.S. Air Force Academy
14%acceptance · CO
Colorado School of Mines
61%acceptance · CO
Colorado Christian University
68%acceptance · CO
Fort Lewis College
77%acceptance · CO
University of Colorado
78%acceptance · CO
University of Denver
78%acceptance · CO
Colorado Mesa University
82%acceptance · CO
University of Northern Colorado
86%acceptance · CO
See all Colorado schools →

Similar to Colorado College

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Colorado College is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: College of the Holy Cross, Babson College, and Denison University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

College of the Holy Cross
18%acceptance · MA
Babson College
17%acceptance · MA
Denison University
17%acceptance · OH
University of Miami
19%acceptance · FL
Berea College
19%acceptance · KY
Vassar College
19%acceptance · NY

Frequently asked questions

What does Colorado College value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Colorado College weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Colorado College consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Colorado College's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Colorado College?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Colorado College specifically.

Is Colorado College test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Colorado College's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1440; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.