Colgate University

What Colgate University does

Colgate University is a private, nonprofit liberal arts institution founded in 1819 in Hamilton, New York. It serves approximately 3,000 undergraduates through a residential four-year model anchored by 57 majors and minors, an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a faculty base in which 96% hold a PhD or the highest degree in their field. The student body spans 87 countries, and Colgate reports a 99% post-graduation outcome rate (employed or pursuing further opportunity within one year). The institution competes in NCAA Division I as part of the Patriot League.

The technology stack is a conventional, integrated campus-services platform rather than a proprietary product suite. The Colgate Portal (web and mobile) connects students and employees to Banner (student information system), Moodle (LMS), email, and announcements. A separate mobile layer handles real-time shuttle tracking (Colgate Shuttle App), dining menus and nutrition (DineOnCampus), mobile food ordering (Boost), Gate Card payment and meal-plan management via CBORD's GET Mobile, and safety communications through Rave Guardian. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary models, or developer-facing APIs are documented.

The revenue model is multi-stream and tuition-anchored: (1) tuition and mandatory fees, (2) room and board from required residential and meal plans, (3) endowment income and alumni donations (which fund the Colgate Commitment no-loan initiative for families earning up to $200,000), and (4) auxiliary services including conference and summer programs, transportation, and the bookstore. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer selective admissions, supported by virtual programming, campus visits, and global recruitment. Dining is outsourced to Chartwells Higher Education (Compass Group). Distribution is anchored on a single residential campus in Hamilton, NY, with limited regional transportation partnerships (Enterprise CarShare, Megabus, airport shuttles to Syracuse and Utica).

Name

Colgate University

Legal name

Colgate University

Website

https://colgate.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1819

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Colgate University is a private nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1819 in Hamilton, New York, serving roughly 3,000 undergraduates through a residential campus with 57 majors, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and a no-loan financial aid program for families earning under $200,000.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Liberal Arts

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA), Great Books/Core Curriculum Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAM)

Keywords

• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate education
• Residential college programs
• Higher education services
• Campus student services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduate education. Colgate is a private liberal arts university with selective admissions.
2. Room and Board: Housing and dining services revenue from students living on campus. Includes meal plans and residential fees.
3. Financial Aid/Donations: Endowment income and charitable donations from alumni and supporters. Colgate has a no-loan initiative for students with family income up to $200K.
4. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from conference services, summer programs, transportation services, bookstore, and other campus services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Colgate University is a private, residential liberal arts institution delivering four-year undergraduate education with 57 majors and minors, an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a tuition-plus-room-and-board program supported by the no-loan Colgate Commitment for families earning up to $200,000. The university also provides integrated campus services including dining, housing, transportation, health and wellness, and a digital portal ecosystem serving the campus community.

Product overview

Colgate University operates as a residential liberal arts institution offering a unified ecosystem of student services. The core platform is the Colgate Portal (web and mobile), which integrates access to academic systems (Banner, Moodle), email, and campus information. The service portfolio includes dining operations (Frank Dining Hall, The Coop, Chobani Café, Donovan's Pub) managed by Chartwells with mobile ordering via Boost, campus transportation via the Colgate Shuttle with real-time tracking, and the Gate Card payment system (CBORD-powered) for dining, purchases, and building access. Student wellness services include Student Health Services and the Shaw Wellness Institute. Housing is delivered through the Residential Commons program with affiliated dining requirements. All services are accessible through dedicated mobile apps for portal access, dining, transportation, and safety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colgate Portal Central digital hub connecting students and employees to campus tools and information including Banner, Moodle, email, announcements, campus events, and personalized resources.
• Colgate Portal Mobile App Mobile companion application for iOS and Android that enables students and employees to access Colgate Portal tools, announcements, and campus resources on mobile devices.
• Frank Dining Hall Primary on-campus dining facility operated by Chartwells offering made-to-order grill, vegan and vegetarian options, allergen-free Pure Eats station, house-made pastas and pizzas, Starbucks, smoothies, and boba tea for residential students.
• The Coop Campus Center dining venue offering made-to-order grill, pizza and pasta, soups, sushi, Utica Coffee Roasters, healthy grain bowls, and grab-and-go options for students and visitors.
• Colgate Shuttle Service Free shuttle transportation service around Hamilton and the university campus with multiple fixed routes including Bookstore-Apartment, Shopping, Townhouse, and Wellness routes, supported by a real-time tracking mobile app.
• Gate Card Official student identification card that serves as a payment method through Gate Cash declining balance and as a building access key, integrated with the CBORD/GET Mobile platform for balance management and meal plan administration.
• Student Health Services On-campus medical service staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses, providing treatment, vaccinations, health insurance guidance, and referrals for enrolled Colgate students.
• Shaw Wellness Institute Holistic campus wellness center offering health promotion programs, alcohol and drug services, dietitian consultations, peer support, pet therapy, and wellness education for Colgate students.
• Residential Commons Residential program for first-year and sophomore students that links housing placement to First-Year Seminar (FSEM) classes, building learning communities around peer mentors and shared academic interests.
• Colgate Community Garden Student-managed organic garden that grows fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers using organic farming practices, supplying produce to campus dining halls, a campus produce stand, and the Hamilton Food Cupboard.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of graduates employed or pursuing opportunities within 1 year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chartwells Higher Education (Compass Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChartwells Higher Education, a division of Compass Group, provides comprehensive dining services for Colgate's campus. They operate Frank Dining Hall, The Coop, Chobani at the Hieber Cafe, Donovan's Pub, and the C Store. Chartwells collaborates with Colgate on sustainable food initiatives, dietary accommodations, and meal plan options. The partnership includes a registered dietitian and culinary team managing allergen-free stations like Pure Eats.
• Common Thread Community FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommon Thread Community Farm, located five miles north of campus, supplies fresh produce to Colgate's dining services. Many students, faculty, and staff also purchase shares through this Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, creating a connection between campus dining and local agriculture.
• Colgate Community GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent volunteers manage the Colgate Community Garden using organic farming practices to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Half the harvest is donated to the Hamilton Food Cupboard, and fresh produce is delivered to Frank Dining Hall weekly during harvest season.
• Max A. Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (COVER)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThis campus center coordinates community service and volunteerism programs including CHOP (Colgate Hunger Outreach Program) addressing hunger in Madison County and supporting local families through the Hamilton Food Cupboard.
• Community Memorial HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Memorial Hospital provides after-hours medical care options for Colgate students, including Urgent Care and Emergency Department services in Hamilton, NY.
• Enterprise CarShareminorOthersEnterprise CarShare provides car-sharing services for students, employees, and community members needing vehicle access off-campus.
• MegabusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMegabus offers transportation to Port Authority in New York City on Fridays and Sundays, with service from Colgate campus. This partnership provides students with affordable intercity transportation options.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood WatchminorOthersColgate's dining services follow the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch List guidelines for sustainable seafood purchasing, ensuring responsible sourcing that supports ocean health.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Amherst College: Private residential liberal arts college in Amherst, MA with similar selectivity, financial aid generosity, and curricular breadth. Competes directly with Colgate for the same applicant pool.
• Hamilton College: Private residential liberal arts college in Clinton, NY with similar size, programs, and selectivity. Shares the same New York State geography and competes for overlapping applicants.
• Williams College: Highly selective private residential liberal arts college in Williamstown, MA with comparable size, no-loan financial aid policies, and low student-faculty ratios. Closest direct competitor in the elite liberal arts segment.
• Bates College: Private residential liberal arts college in Lewiston, ME with similar size, academic structure, and student outcomes profile. Competes for the same NESCAC-adjacent applicant pool.
• Vassar College: Private residential liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, NY with similar size, selectivity, and curricular breadth. Geographic and demographic overlap with Colgate's applicant pool.
• Wellesley College: Highly selective private residential liberal arts college in Massachusetts with comparable financial aid, faculty credentials, and post-graduation outcomes. Direct competitor in the women's liberal arts segment.
• Middlebury College: Private residential liberal arts college in Vermont with strong faculty credentials and global programs. Comparable in size, selectivity, and residential model.
• Bowdoin College: Private residential liberal arts college in Brunswick, ME with no-loan financial aid and comparable student-faculty ratios. Competes for the same high-achieving Northeast applicant pool.

Broad incumbents

• Tufts University: Private research university with a strong undergraduate liberal arts college component. Overlaps with Colgate on undergraduate admissions and financial aid generosity, but offers graduate and professional programs Colgate does not.
• Dartmouth College: Ivy League institution with a residential liberal arts core and strong undergraduate outcomes. Pulls from the same elite applicant pool as Colgate but offers graduate programs and broader research scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cuatchannel13
• Facebookfacebook.com/34498840180
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colgate-university-18938
• Instagraminstagram.com/colgateuniversity
• Xx.com/colgateuniv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colgate University