Skidmore College

Skidmore meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students and has no application fees or supplemental essays. The Princeton Review highlights Skidmore for "Great Financial Aid," based on student satisfaction with financial aid packages. This underscores the College’s commitment to making a transformative Skidmore education accessible to academically talented students with a range of backgrounds, experiences, and achievements.

Skidmore offers multiple ways to apply, including the Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge Application. The application process is simple, with no application fees or supplemental essays required, and test scores are optional. The college seeks students who want to do more than one thing and do it all well, emphasizing creative thought and interdisciplinary study.

Skidmore offers a rigorous liberal arts education with a focus on interdisciplinary learning and creative thought. With an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 16, students benefit from close faculty mentorship and personalized academic advising. The curriculum encourages students to connect ideas in bold, unexpected ways, fostering a culture of broad academic curiosity and personalized learning.

Skidmore graduates are recruited by top companies like Amazon, Boston Children's Hospital, and Ernst & Young. The Career Development Center provides career preparation, and 85% of students complete an internship or professional experience, with 75% completing more than one. Many graduates also continue their education at schools like Columbia University, Northwestern University, and Yale University.

Skidmore offers a vibrant campus life with over 100 clubs and organizations, though some find the social scene can feel cliquish. The campus is located in Saratoga Springs, a charming small town with a lively downtown area. While there is no Greek life, students enjoy a balanced social scene with parties primarily occurring on weekends, often hosted by sports teams.

Campus Safety is responsible for maintaining a safe campus environment, working with other offices to present a comprehensive program of personal and fire safety. The campus is patrolled 24 hours a day by trained security, and emergency telephones are available for student use. Skidmore also offers late-night transportation or safety escorts for students.

Skidmore offers the Periclean Honors Forum, which sponsors the annual Academic Festival, and the Schupf Scholars Program, which funds students to participate in the Faculty Student Summer Research Program and continue that research with their faculty mentor in the ensuing academic year. The Schupf Scholars Program focuses on science, technology, and mathematics, and pays special attention to interdisciplinary projects and to female students in fields where women are underrepresented.

Skidmore has a diverse student body with students hailing from 62 countries, comprising 9% of the student population. The International Student Union (ISU) promotes a sense of community and cultural understanding among international and American students. The college also offers study abroad programs in 45 countries, with financial aid traveling with the student.