Colgate University is a private, non-sectarian liberal arts college founded in 1819 by the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York in Hamilton, New York. It was originally established as the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution (1823), renamed Madison College (1846), and became Colgate University in 1890 in honor of the Colgate family's contributions. Located in Hamilton, New York, the university enrolls approximately 3,169 undergraduate students (2024-25) with 351 full-time faculty and a student-faculty ratio of 9:1. It has an endowment of $1.345 billion (2025) and an operating budget of $262 million (FY 2024). Colgate meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans for eligible students and has committed to tuition-free education for families earning under $80,000. A member of the Patriot League in NCAA Division I, it is known for its notable alumni in business, finance, politics, and media.