Colgate University offers need-based financial aid and does not offer academic merit aid.
Because Colgate notifies students of its admission and financial aid decisions at the same time, institutional aid is provided only to those first-year students who have demonstrated need and 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, it is important to send the required financial aid application materials by the appropriate deadlines. Colgate cannot guarantee that an otherwise-qualified applicant will receive financial aid if the deadlines are not met.
Furthering Colgate's commitment to the environment, we are pleased to be able to offer our applicants a paperless application process, described below. In general, the only financial aid application form Colgate requires of U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens* is the Financial Aid PROFILE, which is submitted online through the College Scholarship Service (CSS). Applicants will be able to complete one application form and have it sent to multiple, participating colleges and universities. For additional information, please see the section labeled "Application Requirements" below.
If a completed tax return is not available by the time of the application deadline, you should provide estimates based on the most recent pay stubs and/or financial statements you have on hand. Please do not delay your financial aid application beyond the deadline because you are waiting to complete your tax returns.
Admitted students who are awarded aid and have decided to attend Colgate must also file, prior to enrollment, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal aid programs such as loans and campus work-study, but at Colgate it is not needed for the initial aid estimate. The same holds true for parent and student income tax returns, as discussed below.
Application Requirements
Prior to Acceptance
1.) CSS PROFILE Application
The CSS PROFILE, a universal application widely used by many private colleges, is available online, beginning each year in early September, 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. Please wait to submit your application until the correct year's form is available, so we can properly track your submission. When asked, you should list Colgate, code 2086, on the PROFILE so we will be able to access your application. Please be aware that because of annual software updates we may not be able to receive your submitted data until December 1. Early applicants need not be concerned about this delay so long as the acknowledgment from the College Board indicates that Colgate will be among the colleges to receive the 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 (i.e., the parent with whom you more often reside) 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. Students with questions about the Noncustodial PROFILE requirement should contact the Office of Financial Aid.
After Payment of the Enrollment Deposit
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 the College Board IDOC service. Please do not send tax returns until you are specifically requested to do so. This submission must be accompanied by a Cover Sheet that will be sent to you by the College Board. If you misplace your Cover Sheet, you can print a copy from http://idoc.collegeboard.com. The required forms are:
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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.
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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.
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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.
4.) Verification of Child Support Received (if applicable)
If your biological or adoptive parents are divorced, separated, or were never married to each other, and your noncustodial parent provides Child Support payments to your custodial parent, then your custodial parent should complete a Child Support Verification Statement. The completed form should then be sent directly to the Office of Financial Aid.
Providing false information in order to obtain financial aid will result in the cancellation of any aid.
*Generally, you are an eligible noncitizen if you fall into one of the categories noted here. If you are neither a citizen nor an eligible noncitizen, please visit the section of our website for first-year students who are Canadian Citizens or International (Non-Canadian) Citizens, as appropriate.