Admission & Aid

Transfer Students

It is rare for Colgate to be able to offer financial aid to transfer students.  This applies for both domestic and international transfer applicants.  If aid is available for transfer students, it is awarded based on demonstrated need.  The university does not offer academic merit aid.  

Colgate grant asistance is awarded for full-time study and is limited to a maximum of eight terms of enrollment for students who matriculate as first-year students, regardless of whether or not they are an aid recipient in any given term.  Courses transferred to complete Colgate degree requirements will reduce this eligibility.  

Because Colgate notifies students of its admission and financial aid decisions at the same time, institutional aid is provided only to students who apply for assistance before an admission decision is made; and aid applicants can be considered for admission only when both their admission and aid applications are complete.  Therefore, if you are applying for financial aid it is important to send all of the required financial aid application materials by the appropriate deadlines, noted below.  Colgate cannot guarantee that an otherwise-qualified applicant will receive financial aid if the deadlines are not met.

Fall Transfer

Transfer students applying to enter Colgate for the fall term and anticipating a need for assistance with educational costs must apply for aid by March 15 of the calendar year of intended enrollment. 

Spring Transfer

Financial aid may be available on a highly competitive basis for transfer students entering in January.  Mid-year transfer students must submit their application materials by November 1 of the academic year of intended enrollment.
 

Application Requirements -- updated 11/15/09

Prior to acceptance

1.) CSS PROFILE Application

The CSS PROFILE, a universal application widely used by many private colleges, is accessible online at www.collegeboard.com/profile.  Consult the PROFILE instructions for the necessary fees, and be sure you are selecting the correct school year for which you will be enrolling.  When asked, you should list Colgate, code 2086, on the PROFILE so we will be able to receive your application.

     Noncustodial PROFILE (if applicable)

Information must be provided by each living biological or adoptive parent.  If your biological or adoptive parents are divorced, separated, or were never married to each other, then the custodial parent completes the PROFILE, and the noncustodial parent completes the Noncustodial PROFILE.  The Noncustodial PROFILE process begins after completion of the custodial parent's PROFILE.  Filing instructions will be provided by CSS electronically.

Special Note for International Applicants:  The above represents a change of requirement for non-U.S. applicants.  International applicants who by November 15, 2009, had already satisfied our former application requirements will be exempted from the new requirements.  All other international applicants should plan to complete the new requirements.  If you are an international student, and if for any reason you are unable to complete the online PROFILE, you may instead submit the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) directly to the Office of Financial Aid.  International students should submit either the PROFILE or the ISFAA, not both.  A student will be at no competitive disadvantage whether completing the PROFILE or the ISFAA, as both applications will be viewed similarly by the Office of Financial Aid.

After acceptance and payment of the enrollment deposit

Although initial financial aid application requirements are the same for students of all nationalities (see item #1 above), post-enrollment requirements are based upon a student's citizenship, as noted below:

United States Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens

2.) Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA can be completed online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.  Be sure to select the correct FAFSA application for your year of intended enrollment.  To complete the FAFSA you will need to have a U.S. Department of Education PIN (personal identification number). The federal PIN will serve as your electronic signature.  At least one parent must apply for a PIN.  If you do not have a PIN or have forgotten it, you may order a new one by visiting http://www.pin.ed.gov/.  Colgate's code for the FAFSA is 002701.

3.) Income Tax Returns/W-2 Statements

If you are awarded financial aid and you enroll at Colgate University, you will be asked at a later date to submit tax returns and other forms to Colgate’s Office of Financial Aid.  Please do not send tax returns until you are specifically requested to do so.  The required forms are:

• A signed copy of the parents' most recent Federal Income Tax Return, including all schedules and W-2 forms; OR, if applicable, a Parent Non-Tax Filer's Statement, a link for which will be provided to you.
  
• If applicable, a copy of the noncustodial parent's most recent Federal Income Tax Return, including all schedules and W-2 forms; OR, if applicable, a Parent Non-Tax Filer's Statement, a link for which will be provided to you.
  
• A signed copy of the student’s most recent Federal Income Tax Return, including all schedules and W-2 forms; OR, if applicable, a Student Non-Tax Filer's Statement, a link for which will be provided to you.
  

International (Non-Canadian) Citizens

Visiting Students

Visiting students are not eligible for financial aid from Colgate and should continue to receive their home institution's financial aid when appropriate.