Keene State vs Colby-Sawyer College
Keene State College and Colby-Sawyer College, both located in New Hampshire, offer distinct educational experiences. Keene State, a public institution, boasts a higher acceptance rate (84%) compared to Colby-Sawyer's more selective admissions (68%). While Keene State's student body is larger and more diverse, Colby-Sawyer's smaller size fosters a close-knit community. Both colleges excel in different areas: Keene State is known for its strong programs in education, nursing, and business, while Colby-Sawyer shines in the liberal arts, sciences, and social sciences. With comparable graduation rates, these institutions provide quality education, but their unique characteristics cater to different student preferences. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Colby-Sawyer College |
![]() Keene State College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | New London, New Hampshire | Keene, New Hampshire |
Campus setting | Rural: Distant | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 68.0% | 75.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 93.1% | 88.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
|
SAT range | N/A | 970 - 1170 |
ACT range | N/A | 24 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 16.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 1.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 1,847 | 4,796 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,719 | 4,225 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 256 | 749 |
Yield rate | 14.9% | 17.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $63,334 |
In state:
$27,606
Out of state:
$37,962
|
Average net price | $26,781 | $20,058 |
Tuition | $45,454 |
In state:
$11,754
Out of state:
$22,110
|
Room & board | $15,891 |
Room/dormitory:
$7,730
Meal plan:
$4,798
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $36,396 |
99.0%
Average amount $9,531 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
82.0%
Average amount $5,277 |
72.0%
Average amount $5,158 |
Students taking out private loans |
18.0%
Average amount $15,243 |
25.0%
Average amount $14,663 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
788
Men 28.3% Women 71.7% |
2,964
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
Graduate students |
50
Men 20.0% Women 80.0% |
136
Men 37.5% Women 62.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Very Low
|
Out-of-state students | 56.7% | 51.2% |
International students | 1.7% | 0.4% |
Campus local/setting | Rural: Distant | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 936 | 2,058 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New Hampshire Mississippi Vermont Maine Connecticut | New Hampshire Mississippi Connecticut Vermont New York |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 64.6% | 59.9% |
Dropout rate | 34.7% | 39.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Health (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Architecture (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.

























































































































































































