Colby College

Colby’s focus on strong academics and student-faculty partnerships, undergraduate research opportunities, and unique connections—to the community, a supportive alumni network, and global experiential learning opportunities—enriches the student experience and prepares graduates for lifelong success. Committed to making a Colby education accessible to all academically qualified students, the College meets 100% of calculated financial need without loans for U.S. and non-U.S. citizens.

Pedagogy grounded in research
Colby students don’t just absorb knowledge—they create it. Working in partnership with faculty scholars on cutting-edge academic and scientific work, students regularly present at national and international conferences and become authors, coauthors, and editors of articles, editions, and book-length publications. Each spring the Colby Liberal Arts Symposium (C.L.A.S.) showcases students’ academic accomplishments, and in 2015 one-third of Colby’s student body presented significant research work through papers, posters, and performances. Every summer students engage in research alongside Colby faculty mentors, both on campus and beyond.

Education with a global reach
The Colby community celebrates diverse perspectives and experiences and connects students to experiential opportunities across the world. Many students intern and conduct research globally, and two-thirds of students study abroad on every continent except Antarctica. Colby’s diverse student body, with students representing more than 75 countries, means discussions in classrooms, in residence halls, and at dining tables are enriched by a variety of perspectives. Half of Colby’s majors have an international component, and every student fulfills international diversity and foreign language requirements.

Jan Plan: one month, infinite possibilities
Colby’s one-month academic term, Jan Plan, officially the January Program, allows students to pursue focused course work on campus or off, independent studies, collaborative research, or internships during an intensive four-week term. For example, students intern at a Fortune 500 company or small nonprofit, study the anthropology of utopias, or travel to Bermuda for a field research course in geology.

Unique partnerships
• Colby’s partnership with the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences enables select juniors to work alongside research scientists studying marine ecosystems on the coast of Maine.
• A five-year, $18.4 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences funds collaboration between the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory and Colby and a dozen other research institutions, providing money for faculty research, summer research fellowships for students, short courses and Jan Plan research, conferences, and scientific equipment.
• The College offers two engineering dual-degree programs. Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from Colby and obtain an engineering degree from one of two Ivy League institutions: Dartmouth College or Columbia University.

Preparation for lifelong success
A robust global community of alumni and parents—plus partnerships with companies, nonprofits, and international institutions—offer students opportunities for internships, service learning, and research. New programs and initiatives foster networking and bolster students’ experiential opportunities, including a pilot program with Citi Group and an extensive job-shadowing program that pairs students with alumni and parents in senior-ranking positions across a wide range of workplaces. Professional Pathways Experience & Planning (PPEP) is a four-year sequential program specifically developed to support student career development. The three focus areas—self-assessment, career exploration, and communication competence—apply to all Colby students whether they choose employment, graduate school, or a fellowship opportunity upon graduation, regardless of the career field they pursue. Colby’s Entrepreneurial Alliance program fosters skill development through programming and mentorship, preparing students to compete for $15,000 in the annual business competition. Students on a pre-professional track meet regularly with a designated staff member for advice and guidance as they prepare and apply for admission to the country’s best graduate programs.