Hamilton College traces its origins back to 1793, when it was chartered as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy, a seminary founded by Rev.

As the Board of Regents wanted, Hamilton started its career as a college with an endowment of $100,000 (equivalent to $1,795,294 in 2023)—a very large sum at the time.

[17] Over time, the college evolved into a more secular institution under the leadership of President M. Woolsey Stryker, who sought to distance Hamilton from its Presbyterian Church roots.

The merger of the two schools, or rather the takeover by Hamilton, took place along with feelings of betrayal and lack of support from Kirkland students.

[19]: 257  On the other hand, it has been noted that Hamilton's transition to coeducation took place "more equitably" than at other men's schools, as a result of Kirkland.

In the same work, "women students' interests" were deemed well represented in the modern Hamilton, which the author found "quite remarkable.

[22] The same year, Professor Robert L. Paquette raised objections when a student group invited Annie Sprinkle, an actress and former pornstar, as a speaker.

[25] The center, now known as the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization, is located off-campus in the village of Clinton.

[27][28] The Daniel Burke Library, designed by architect Hugh Stubbins, was finished in 1972 with a budget exceeding $5.5 million.

It features a naturally illuminated commons area that serves as a gathering spot for students to study or socialize.

The renovation and expansion project of the Kirner-Johnson building received an Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects in 2004, and was completed in 2008.

Apart from hosting the men's and women's Continental teams, the rink has accommodated youth hockey, high school teams, adult amateur leagues, and the Clinton Comets, who enjoyed success in the semi-professional Eastern Hockey League during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Although the original observatory was destroyed by fire, its legacy is commemorated on campus through the presence of its telescope mount near the Siuda Admissions and Financial Aid House.

The current observatory, a quarter mile away from the main campus, operates on solar energy and provides access for student use.

Constructed using rock sourced from the same quarry as the original building, the present observatory is positioned 100 feet from College Hill Road.

[35] The center is named in honor of trustees Drew S. Days III and Arthur J. Massolo, who both made significant contributions to Hamilton College.

[41] Hamilton College was featured on the U.S. News "Top 100 - Lowest Acceptance Rates" list published in 2024.

This includes specific amounts allocated to different categories, such as $65,090 for tuition, $9,120 for housing, $7,570 for food, and $650 for a student activity fee.

On average, financial aid awards amount to $53,597 and may include various forms of assistance such as scholarships, student loans, and work-study opportunities.

[49] According to the annual ranking for 2021 conducted by U.S. News & World Report, Hamilton College is categorized as "most selective" in admissions.

In October 2010, the college implemented a gender-neutral housing policy, allowing students of any gender to share rooms designated for two or more occupants.

[58] WHCL-FM is a radio station at Hamilton College that airs a range of programming, including music, news, sports, and talk shows.

Hamilton's men's rugby team achieved fourth place in the national Division III tournament in 2008.

[61] One of Hamilton's long-standing football rivalries is with Middlebury College, dating back to 1911 and known as the Rocking Chair Classic.

[62] Hamilton College is in a census-designated place in the Town of Kirkland, Oneida County, separate from the Village of Clinton.