Colby College Transfer Acceptance Rate
Colby College has not published a Common Data Set since 2015-16, when it admitted 23 of 205 transfer applicants — an 11.2% Colby College transfer acceptance rate. Today Colby says it has only a handful of transfer spaces each semester, for fall and spring entry.
Colby College transfer requirements, at a glance
Colby College transfer figures
Colby has not posted a Common Data Set since 2015-16, so its transfer figures are older than any other school we track in this group. That CDS showed 205 transfer applicants for Fall 2015, 23 admitted (11.2%) and 8 enrolled. Treat it as a historical benchmark: Colby now describes only a handful of transfer spaces each semester.
| Cycle | Applicants | Admits | Acceptance Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2015 | 205 | 23 | 11.2% | Colby CDS 2015-16 |
What GPA do you need for Colby?
Colby’s current transfer page sets no GPA cutoff; the last minimum it published was 3.0, in its 2015-16 Common Data Set. With only a handful of spaces each semester, Colby College transfer admission is competitive, and your college record is read with a midterm report, a Transfer College Report and your high school transcript.
Colby advises applying before your sophomore or junior year and accepts up to 64 semester credit hours. Your academic evaluation must come from a full-time professor, not a teaching assistant.
What a competitive Colby transfer applicant looks like
Competitive Colby transfer admits share a tight profile. Missing any one of these is where most rejections cluster.
Colby College transfer requirements & deadlines
Application Essays
Apply through the Common App for transfer. With only a handful of spaces each semester, your essay needs a specific, credible reason for choosing Colby.
Letters of Recommendation
An academic evaluation from a full-time professor (not a teaching assistant), plus a Transfer College Report and a midterm report.
Credits
Colby accepts up to 64 semester credit hours. Send official transcripts from every college you attended and your high school transcript.
Test Scores
Colby’s transfer checklist does not list SAT or ACT scores among the required materials.
Interested in transferring to Colby?
Book a 1-hour Zoom consultation with “The Goat” — a Stanford transfer student turned advisor, who’s spent the last decade helping applicants transfer into elite schools.
Why most Colby transfer applications get rejected
Most rejections trace back to one of five patterns. Here’s what they are — and how to fix them before you apply.
- Not having strong extracurriculars.A strong GPA isn’t enough — admissions officers want to see sustained commitment and leadership outside the classroom.
- Not having a competitive GPA.AOs need to know you can handle the coursework.
- Not telling a story that catches the AO’s attention.A list of accomplishments isn’t a narrative. The strongest essays connect who you are, why you’re transferring, and why Colby specifically — in a way that’s memorable, not generic.
- Not having a compelling reason to transfer.“I want a bigger school” or “better opportunities” reads as vague. Admissions officers want a specific, personal reason tied to your goals and to Colby.
- Not having strong personal recommendation letters.A rushed request to a professor who barely knows you shows. Build real relationships early so your recommenders can speak to specifics, not generalities.
Want us to spot these in your file before you submit? Book a 60-minute review ?
How Colby compares to peers
If Colby is your target, the other Maine colleges and Middlebury make natural parallel applications — and unlike Colby, all three publish current transfer data. Bates and Middlebury admitted transfers at higher rates than Colby’s last published figure, while Bowdoin admitted a smaller share.
Frequently asked questions
Does Colby College accept transfer students?
Yes. Colby admits transfers for fall and spring, but says there are only a handful of spaces each semester and admission is competitive. Housing is not guaranteed for transfer students.
When do Colby transfer decisions come out?
Colby doesn’t publish a fixed transfer decision date. It sets priority deadlines of April 1 (fall) and November 1 (spring), then considers applications on a rolling basis until July 1 and December 15.
How many transfer students does Colby College accept?
Colby hasn’t published transfer counts since its 2015-16 Common Data Set, which showed 23 admits from 205 applicants and 8 enrolled for Fall 2015. Its admissions office now describes a handful of transfer spaces each semester.
What is the Colby College transfer acceptance rate?
The last published Colby College transfer acceptance rate is 11.2%, for Fall 2015 (23 of 205 applicants). Colby has not released a Common Data Set since 2015-16, so no newer official rate exists.
When is the Colby College transfer application due?
For fall entry, the priority deadline is April 1, with rolling review through July 1. For spring entry, the priority deadline is November 1 — required if you want to take part in Jan Plan — with rolling review through December 15.
Can I apply if I took a gap year or break?
A break isn’t listed as a disqualifier in Colby’s transfer requirements. You will still send transcripts from every college you attended, your high school transcript and a midterm report, so ask admissions how to handle the midterm report if you are not enrolled this term.
What if I already have a degree?
Colby’s transfer requirements don’t address applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree, so confirm with the admissions office. Colby accepts up to 64 semester credit hours of transfer work.
Where this data comes from
- Colby Admissions — Transfer Applicants — requirements, deadlines, credit, aid (primary source)
- Colby — Common Data Set 2015-16 — last published Section D transfer data
- Common Application — application platform
Want a real shot at Colby?
With only a handful of Colby College transfer spaces each semester, every part of your file counts. Our consultants will look at your transcript, your reasons for transferring, and your fit with Colby.