Early Decision is an ideal option for students who know they want to attend Colgate and are ready to apply.
Colgate offers Early Decision I and II for students who have identified Colgate as their first choice. Both options are binding, which means admitted students must agree to withdraw all other applications and attend Colgate.
Early Decision Applicant Checklist
Required Application Materials
Apply using the Common Application, Coalition on Scoir, or Questbridge Application, which include the personal statement.
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- Colgate's application fee is $60.
- Colgate will waive the application fee for any student who is applying for financial aid and qualifies for any fee waiver per the guidelines set by either the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir without requiring further verification.
- The application fee is waived for non-U.S. citizens (does not apply to U.S. dual citizens or permanent residents).
- The application fee is waived for all U.S. military veterans.
- Colgate accepts official fee waivers from the College Board, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and Expanding College Opportunities. All other fee waiver verifications must be submitted on school/organization letterhead and signed by a counselor.
Submit the Early Decision Agreement (PDF) with the signatures of the student, a parent/guardian, and a guidance counselor.
Recommendations must be from core academic teachers who worked with a student in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
The guidance counselor recommendation should detail academic and personal preparedness for post-secondary education.
An official high school transcript will display courses and grades for all years of high school attended. If your high school does not provide a transcript in English, we require an official original transcript and an official English translation.
Colgate defines mid-year grades as the first semester or first trimester grades from your final year of high school. If these grades are not available by the Early Decision deadline, that does not impact your application status; Colgate requires this item to be submitted by February 15. Let us know if you or your school counselor have any additional questions about this.
Optional Application Materials
Colgate offers applicants the opportunity to lend depth to their application through optional supplemental writing prompts. These prompts are not meant to feel like essays; they are simply an added perspective. Responses to these prompts provide the Admission team greater insight into who the applicants are and the many ways they may flourish at Colgate.
Applicants can choose to respond to any or all of the prompts, which will be available in their Colgate applicant portal after their application has been received. Applicants should submit responses to the optional supplemental prompts based on personal preference. Those who choose not to submit responses will be at no disadvantage in the application review process.
Deadlines for applicants choosing to submit supplemental essay responses:
Early Decision I: December 1
Early Decision II and Regular Decision: February 1
Prompt 1:
On Colgate’s campus, students engage with individuals from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, religions, and perspectives during the course of their educational and social experiences. In 200-250 words, please share the benefits you see in engaging with a diverse body of students, faculty, and staff as part of your Colgate experience.
Prompt 2:
Colgate students immerse themselves in social and intellectual pursuits that inspire them. Tell us in 200-250 words what inspires you and why you want to pursue that at Colgate.
Prompt 3:
Please complete the following so we can learn a bit more about you. Each response should be no more than 13 words.
- I am fascinated by…
- My favorite book, movie, or television show is…
- My role model is…
- In the future, I hope to …
- One historical figure I would like to meet is…
- My favorite food is…
- One thing I would change is…
- I am most challenged by…
- My favorite place is…
- I am drawn to Colgate University because…
Submission of SAT and ACT scores is optional for all applicants through the 2026-2027 application season.
When students choose to submit standardized test scores, this information provides additional data to demonstrate their overall achievement. When students choose not to submit standardized test scores, the Office of Admission evaluates achievement through all other elements of the application. Students will be at no disadvantage if they choose not to submit test scores. Important information is listed below.
- Applicants should indicate on their application whether or not they would like their scores considered.
- Colgate will accept self-reported ACT or SAT score results. Applicants may list ACT or SAT results in their Common Application, Coalition on Scoir, or Questbridge Application. Additionally, students may send a copy of their score reports to admission@colgate.edu.
- Colgate accepts results from both the paper and digital formats of the SAT, and will superscore across formats.
- Colgate superscores both the ACT and the SAT. Colgate's school code for the SAT is 2086. Colgate's school code for the ACT is 2702.
- To determine how their scores compare to current Colgate students, applicants may view the Academic Profile on the First-Year Class Profile. This may be a helpful tool when deciding whether or not to submit standardized test scores.
- After receiving an admission decision, admitted applicants who chose to have their scores considered will be required to send official scores from the testing agency.
- Official TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores are required for non-native English speakers who do not study at a secondary school where English is the primary language of instruction. These scores must be sent from an official testing agency. Colgate's school code for the TOEFL is 2086. Please consult the webpage for International Applicants for more information.
Supplementary Materials
Students wishing to document specific extracurricular achievements in high school may submit supplementary materials for review with their applications.
Applicants are welcome to supplement their application with a SlideRoom submission to showcase creative accomplishments related to the arts. Every submission will be assessed by a Colgate faculty member and considered as part of the holistic application review. Colgate will accept submissions in visual art and media (of any kind), music (instrumental, vocal, and composition), theater/musical recordings, and dance portfolios. Submissions may include more than one medium, and all mediums should be indicated on the SlideRoom submission form. If you would like to include other supplementary materials in your application, such as creative written work, videos highlighting volunteer efforts, or school speeches, please consider using the Digital Presence. Additionally, please make sure that submissions highlight your individual ability so that our faculty are able to identify and assess you as an artist. Submission deadlines coincide with application and financial aid deadlines for all application plans, and we cannot accept submissions for review via email or after the deadline has passed.
Submitting material for review does not require a commitment to a major, nor will it impact academic placement. No audition or placement material is required to declare a major in the arts. Technical specifications for submissions can be found on the SlideRoom website. The submission fee is $12.00 USD. Applicants receiving a Common Application fee waiver will automatically have this fee waived in SlideRoom. This fee will also be automatically waived for all students applying via QuestBridge. Colgate is unable to provide SlideRoom fee waivers. If you have questions about a SlideRoom submission, please email admission@colgate.edu. If you have questions about a specific major or faculty/student organization, please email the academic department directly.
To document athletic achievement, please follow the guidelines in the application and send tapes and talent resumes directly to a coach.
c/o (Coach for your sport)
Department of Athletics
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY 13346
Some applicants may wish to share additional digital materials which showcase their background, talents, or creativity. Some examples include, but are not limited to, creative works, social media profiles, performances, online boutiques, and community pages. Applicants are welcome to share the web address/URL on the Colgate supplement as part of the Common Application, Coalition Application, or Questbridge Application.
We often receive other samples of students' achievements in fields such as journalism, student government, community service, etc. Such information is most helpful when it is a concisely presented sample of your best work or accomplishment. Such supplements should complement, but not replace, the effort to complete the application questions with regard to activities and involvement.
Challenges in obtaining required application items
Any student experiencing difficulty obtaining a required application item or meeting an application deadline as a result of local restrictions, natural disaster, or other emergency should contact the Office of Admission at admission@colgate.edu or 315-228-7401 to discuss these concerns and options.
Application Deadlines
| Early Decision I | Early Decision II | Regular Decision |
| Deadline: November 15 Decision Release: Mid-December |
Deadline: January 15 Decision Release: Mid-February |
Deadline: January 15 Decision Release: Late March |
*Regular decision applicants may change their application to ED II by submitting the Early Decision Agreement (PDF) no later than February 1.
Early Decision II option for Regular Decision applicants
Regular Decision applicants who have applied by January 15 may convert their applications to Early Decision II up until February 1. This option is designed for students who decide Colgate is their top choice after January 15 to be able to indicate their strong desire to enroll.
Financial Aid for Early Decision Applicants
Colgate meets full financial need for all admitted students, including Early Decision applicants. If you plan to apply for need-based financial aid, we highly recommend using an online cost calculator to estimate of your financial aid package in advance.
Financial Aid Deadlines
All applicants must submit required documents by these dates:
- Early Decision I: November 15
- Early Decision II: January 15
- Regular Decision: January 15
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