 Who is eligible for financial aid from Colgate?
Does Colgate offer academic merit aid?
Can I apply for financial aid as an independent student?
What if I receive an outside scholarship?
What should I do if my parents are divorced, separated, and/or remarried?
Does Colgate allow graduate students or parents to be counted as family members in college?
Is consumer debt considered part of the calculation in determining the family contribution?
What happens if the family asset values change from the time of application?
How many hours a week are expected for a campus job?
Can I have a campus job if I’m not receiving financial aid?
How much does it cost to go to Colgate?
How do I apply for financial aid?
What is a typical Colgate financial aid award?
Will I receive the same aid package each year at Colgate?
Is there any way to estimate how much aid I will receive?
Is there a limit to how much I can work?
Can I be considered for financial aid in future years if I did not receive any financial aid in my first year?
I missed the deadline for applying for financial aid. What should I do? Will I still get aid?
Will applying for financial aid hurt my chances for admission?
Does applying for Early Decision (ED) hurt my chances for financial aid?
Is Colgate "need-blind" in admission?
Does Colgate offer aid to transfer students?
Can I afford to attend Colgate?
Will Colgate match my financial aid award from another institution(s)?
What are Colgate's financial application codes?
How do I apply for my Federal Direct Loan?
Who is eligible for financial aid from Colgate?
Applicants who file all required financial aid application materials by the appropriate deadlines, have demonstrated need, and will be matriculated students at Colgate will be eligible for financial aid from the university.
 Back to the questions
Does Colgate offer academic merit aid?
No. Colgate financial aid is based on financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Being a member of the Division-I Patriot League, Colgate does offer a limited number of athletic scholarships -- eligible students will be contacted by a coach if they are being considered for such an award.
Back to the questions
Can I apply for financial aid as an independent student?
Colgate University does not offer financial assistance to students who voluntarily declare themselves independent of their parents, nor are we able to offer assistance if parents decide that they no longer wish to support a student at Colgate.
Back to the questions
What if I receive an outside scholarship?
While the combination of outside awards and financial aid from Colgate cannot exceed our annual cost of attendance, Colgate allows a student to receive the maximum possible benefit from an outside award by reducing first the portions of the aid award for which the student and family are responsible. Thus, any outside award(s) will first be used to offset -- based on the student's preference -- family contribution, job, and/or loan (known as self-help). Only after all self-help has been offset will the outside award reduce a student's Colgate Grant. Entitlement awards from state or federal sources as well as tuition subsidies based on a parent's employment are not covered by this policy and reduce Colgate Grant dollar for dollar. Colgate Grant assistance will not be increased to compensate for outside aid for which you do not properly apply. Please have your outside scholarship sent to the Office of Financial Aid.
Back to the questions
What should I do if my parents are divorced, separated, and/or remarried?
Colgate requires financial aid application information from each living biological or adoptive parent. This requirement applies even if parents are divorced, separated, or were never married to each other. In cases of non-support or unwillingness to pay we still need information from the parent with whom you do not reside (the noncustodial parent). Students with extenuating circumstances should contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Back to the questions
Does Colgate allow graduate students or parents to be counted as family members in college?
No. Parent contributions for graduate students and parents in college are not considered when determining need for Colgate aid.
Back to the questions
Is consumer debt considered part of the calculation in determining the family contribution?
Not specifically, because taking into account high levels of consumer debt would give families who owe significant amounts of money an unfair advantage over families who do not. However, our calculation does provide a standard allowance for reasonable levels of household expense. That said, families who are facing difficulty in managing their debt specifically as a result of a parent's recent job loss, wage reduction, illness, or death may wish to make note of this in the "Special Circumstances" section of the CSS PROFILE, so we can be aware of the situation.
Back to the questions
What happens if the family asset values change from the time of application?
Colgate will continue to use the asset values reported at the time of application.
Back to the questions
How many hours a week are expected for a campus job?
Students generally find they need to work 10-12 hours per week in order to earn the amount of their work-study award.
Back to the questions
Can I have a campus job if I’m not receiving financial aid?
Yes. Work-study students receive priority in hiring for most on-campus positions, but there are a number of part-time jobs available that are not limited to students receiving work-study awards.
Back to the questions
How much does it cost to go to Colgate?
Please visit this site for a listing of the most recent student charges.
Back to the questions
How do I apply for financial aid?
Complete instructions on how to apply and links to on-line forms can be found at http://www.colgate.edu/financialaid/apply.
Back to the questions
What is a typical Colgate financial aid award?
A typical Colgate financial aid award combines the Colgate Grant, a student loan, and a campus job opportunity. Generally, Colgate Grant funds represent the largest portion of a regular financial aid award.
Back to the questions
Will I receive the same aid package each year at Colgate?
Your financial need will be reevaluated annually. If you apply on time and continue to demonstrate need, you will receive financial aid to meet your need. You must update your financial aid records by filing renewal applications every year. Your aid is not contingent upon maintaining a target grade point average, other than to meet Colgate standards for minimum academic progress.
Back to the questions
Is there any way to estimate how much aid I will receive?
There is no definitive method of determining in advance the amount of financial aid for which a student will qualify, because there are numerous variables involved in determining financial need. However, one resource for estimating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) would be the on-line calculator provided by the College Board. It can be found at this site. The EFC calculator will at least give you a general sense of what your family contribution may be. Of the formulas offered, the "Institutional Methodology" formula will likely provide the best approximation of a family's EFC at Colgate.
Back to the questions
Is there a limit to how much I can work?
Yes. Full-time students are held to a maximum of 20 hours of work per week while classes are in session. (The limit does not apply when school is not in session, such as during summer break.) However, Colgate anticipates that students will not need to work more than 10-12 hours per week in order to earn their work-study awards.
Back to the questions
Can I be considered for financial aid in future years if I did not receive any financial aid in my first year?
Yes. If you do not apply or qualify for aid in the first year but find your family has experienced a change in financial circumstances, you can apply for assistance in upperclass years.
Back to the questions
I missed the deadline for applying for financial aid. What should I do? Will I still get aid?
If you did not apply for aid before your admission decision was made, you are not eligible to receive financial aid from Colgate for your first year; however you may be eligible for federal aid. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid to learn how to apply for federal aid. You will be able to apply for financial aid in your upperclass years; and so long as you apply on time and have demonstrated need, you will receive aid.
Back to the questions
Will applying for financial aid hurt my chances for admission?
Colgate's admission process is not need-blind. However, students who need assistance with college costs should apply for aid at the same time they apply for admission, because Colgate provides institutional aid only to admitted students who demonstrate need and apply for aid before their admission decision is made.
Back to the questions
Does applying for Early Decision (ED) hurt my chances for financial aid?
No. As with the regular decision financial aid process, students admitted under ED who apply for aid on time and demonstrate financial need will have their need met in full, usually with a combination of Colgate Grant, job, and loan. In addition, the composition of financial aid awards to ED students is the same as for students applying regular decision.
Back to the questions
Is Colgate "need-blind" in admission?
Colgate is committed to meeting the demonstrated financial need of all admitted students, but the admission process is not need-blind.
Back to the questions
Does Colgate offer aid to transfer students?
It is rare for Colgate to be able to offer financial aid to transfer students.
Back to the questions
Can I afford to attend Colgate?
Many people assume that they cannot afford a private, highly selective college such as Colgate. However, need-based financial aid can help bridge the gap between what a family is asked to contribute and the full cost of attendance. Especially because Colgate students have few out-of-pocket expenses beyond the cost of attendance (most activities are low- or no-cost, and there are no hidden charges), financial aid can help make a Colgate education more affordable, even for families with limited resources.
If you are interested in attending Colgate but worried about costs, we encourage you to apply for financial aid. You might qualify for some type of assistance even if you initially think you will not be eligible.
Back to the questions
Will Colgate match my financial aid award from another institution(s)?
No. We do not change our award on the basis of what a family is offered from another college or university.
Back to the questions
What are Colgate's financial application codes?
Colgate's PROFILE code is 2086, FAFSA code is 002701 and TAP code (NYS residents only) is 0125.
Back to the questions
How do I apply for my Federal Direct Loan?
If you receive a Federal Direct Loan as part of a Colgate financial aid award, loan application instructions will be sent to you during the summer. If you do not receive a Federal Direct Loan as part of an aid award but decide you would like to apply for a loan, please contact the Office of Financial Aid for information. Parents interested in a Federal Direct PLUS Loan should also contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Back to the questions
|