Private liberal arts college in upstate New York, founded 1793, known for rigorous academics and Little Ivy status.
Hamilton College offers a Bachelor of Arts degree across 55 fields of study, with 44 majors and the option to design interdisciplinary concentrations. The curriculum emphasizes flexibility; while students must complete their chosen concentration, they select other courses freely. All students must satisfy quantitative and symbolic reasoning requirements and complete at least three writing-intensive courses. The college participates in dual-degree engineering programs with Columbia University and Dartmouth College, and recently announced 4+1 master's partnerships with Washington University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Chicago, plus graduate partnerships with Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Duke.
The 1,350-acre campus in Clinton features the Daniel Burke Library (80,000 sq ft, 500,000 volumes), the Sage Rink (oldest collegiate indoor hockey rink in the U.S., built 1921), Litchfield Observatory, and the historic Hamilton College Chapel. Student housing includes dormitories, suites, apartment-style units, and cooperative living; gender-neutral housing has been available since 2010. The college operates WHCL-FM radio (88.7 FM) and publishes The Spectator weekly newspaper. Most students live on campus in college-owned facilities.
For the Class of 2027, Hamilton received 9,643 applications with an 11.8% acceptance rate. The student body represents 45+ U.S. states and 46+ countries, with 53% female and 47% male enrollment. Hamilton has practiced SAT-optional admissions since 2002 and employs needs-blind admission for U.S. citizens. The college is categorized as 'most selective' by U.S. News and is often referred to as one of the Little Ivies.
For 2023–24, total direct costs are $82,430 annually, comprising $65,090 tuition, $9,120 housing, $7,570 food, and $650 student activity fee. Hamilton meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students and provides aid to nearly half of all students, with average awards of $53,597. The college maintains a $46 million scholarship budget, 40% of which is endowed. Needs-blind admission applies to U.S. citizens.
Hamilton ranks 14th among liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report (2024) and 66th nationally by Forbes (2024–25). Washington Monthly ranked it 29th among liberal arts colleges for contribution to public good. The college is tied for ninth overall and 28th in 'Best Undergraduate Teaching' among National Liberal Arts Colleges. Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked it 11th among best-value liberal arts colleges in 2019.