One of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges, Colby offers 45 majors and 35 minors, close interaction with world-class faculty scholars, and guaranteed opportunities for research, internships, and global learning. Colby's rigorous academic experience is rooted in the deep exploration of ideas and connected to the world's most complex challenges. Unique connections—to the local community, a supportive alumni network, and global experiential learning opportunities—enrich the Colby experience and prepare graduates for lifelong success.

Colby's diverse and collaborative community represents more than 70 countries and 45 states, with each student bringing their unique background, experience, perspective, interests, and voice to the community. Through the Colby Commitment, the College ensures the most talented students from all backgrounds have access to the best possible education. 11% of Colby students are first generation. Colby meets 100 percent of demonstrated need without including loans in financial aid packages. Families with a total income of $75,000 or less and typical assets should expect a parent or guardian contribution of $0. Families with a total income between $75,000 and $150,000 with typical assets can expect a parent or guardian contribution of $15,000 or less. There is no fee to apply, extra essays and writing supplements are not required, and as a test optional institution, you may choose whether to submit standardized test scores with your application to Colby.

More than 70% of students study abroad at some point, choosing from 180 programs in more than 60 countries. The College’s DavisConnects program guarantees every Colby student access to a global experience, regardless of their ability to pay, and provides advising to all Colby students beginning in their first year. Students on a pre-professional track meet regularly with a designated advisor as they prepare and apply for admission to the country’s best graduate programs. A robust global community of alumni and parents—as well as partnerships with companies, nonprofits, and international institutions—provides every Colby student with an extensive career and personal network, regardless of their background. Many recent initiatives have bolstered students’ experiential learning opportunities, including a partnership with Omprakash that provides students with global social impact internships, an extensive job-shadowing program, and trips to connect students with alumni, companies, and industry leaders.

Colby operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar. Students take four classes in the fall, one class in January as part of the first-of-its-kind Jan Plan term, and four classes in the spring. Colby's Jan Plan program, an intensive four-week academic term in January, allows students to pursue focused coursework, independent or collaborative research, or a career opportunity on or off-campus. A few of the many options available to students include an EMT certification course, internships at a Fortune 500 company or small nonprofit, and coursework ranging from an in-depth look at the anthropology of utopias to geology field research in Bermuda to a wildlife conservation course in Namibia.

Colby is one of only a handful of small liberal arts colleges to combine computer science, biology, statistics, and mathematics in a computational biology program. Students also have the opportunity to combine computer science with another discipline through the College’s interdisciplinary computation program. Students interested in engineering can participate in dual-degree engineering programs with Dartmouth or Columbia and earn 2 degrees - a B.A. from Colby and a B.E. or B.S. degree from the partner institution.

The Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence at Colby is the first cross-disciplinary institute for artificial intelligence (AI) at a liberal arts college. The Institute facilitates significant faculty and student research using rich datasets with real-world consequences and prepares students for a future where AI is transforming industries, careers, and modes of discovery, creativity, and scholarship.

The student experience is bolstered by over 125 campus clubs and organizations, as well as a renowned art museum. A number of labs, institutes, and partnerships position Colby students to pursue scholarship at a high level. These include The Lunder Institute for American Art, which was established with a gift of more than $100 million in American art from the Lunder family. The Lunder Institute furthers the Colby College Museum of Art’s educational mission and is the only research institute focused on American art at any college similar in size to Colby.

Additionally, the College is home to the Buck Lab for Climate and Environment, Linde Packamn Lab for Biosciences Innovation, Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship, and the Lyons Arts Lab. The Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts opened in Fall 2023 and is the most advanced and innovative arts facility in the region. It includes multipurpose performance areas, film editing, screening, and recording rooms, and will incorporate state-of-the-art multimedia and interactive technologies.

Opened in 2020, the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center is among the best facilities in the nation and serves as a resource for both athletes and other community members at Colby, in Waterville, and throughout New England. Colby boasts 32 NCAA Division III varsity athletic teams, countless opportunities to explore the Maine outdoors, and numerous civic engagement offerings. The Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons residence hall in downtown Waterville continues to deepen Colby’s commitment to community partnership.