Apply for Aid

Financial aid is an essential part of the admission process for many students.

To be considered for Colgate’s need-based aid, you must indicate that you are applying for aid on your Colgate admission application and then complete the steps listed below before an admission decision is made. Please note that requirements will vary by citizenship.

Aid Submission Deadlines

  • Early Decision I:  November 1
  • Early Decision II: January 15
  • Regular Decision: January 15
  • Spring transfers: November 1
  • Fall transfers: March 15
  • Current students: January 31

Applying for Aid

U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents

1. Complete the CSS Profile

Complete the CSS beginning October 1.

The CSS Profile is required to be considered for Colgate’s need-based institutional aid, including the Colgate Commitment and no-loan initiative. Domestic students may qualify for a fee waiver.

If your biological or adoptive parents live apart and are divorced, separated, or were never married to each other, each parent should submit a CSS Profile reflecting their individual household and financial situation.

Students under age 27 are considered dependents by Colgate University, and parent information is required. It is anticipated that a student who matriculates as a dependent student will remain dependent for financial aid purposes throughout their enrollment at Colgate.

2. Create federal student aid IDs (FSA ID)

Create your FSA ID
New students and FAFSA contributors — a student’s parent(s), stepparent(s) — will need Federal Student Aid IDs (FSA ID) to complete the FAFSA.

3. Complete and submit the FAFSA

File the FAFSA
To be considered for federal financial aid, all U.S. and permanent residents must submit the FAFSA. Learn more details on reporting parent financial information.

4. Apply for New York State TAP (NYS residents only)

Apply for TAP by following the prompts at the end of the FAFSA or through HESC. The New York State Tuition Assistance Program grant supplements the generous offer provided by Colgate.

5. Review your aid offer

Along with your admission decision letter, Colgate will share a detailed aid offer. Helpful information to compare aid packages.

International, Undocumented & DACA Students

1. Complete the CSS Profile

Complete the CSS beginning October 1
The CSS Profile is required to be considered for Colgate’s need-based institutional aid, including the Colgate Commitment and no-loan initiative.

  • Colgate offers CSS Profile fee waiver codes to international applicants for whom submitting the CSS Profile would be a significant financial burden. After students submit their admission application to Colgate and it has been processed by the office, they may request a CSS Profile fee waiver directly through the Colgate applicant portal.
  • The deadline to make this request is the same as the application deadline (Early Decision I: November 1; Early Decision II and Regular Decision: January 15). The financial aid office cannot accept paper or PDF copies of the CSS Profile.
  • If your biological or adoptive parents live apart and are divorced, separated, or were never married to each other, each parent should submit a CSS Profile reflecting their individual household and financial situation.
  • Students under age 27 are considered dependents by Colgate University, and parent information is required. It is anticipated that a student who matriculates as a dependent student will remain dependent for financial aid purposes throughout their enrollment at Colgate.
2. Review your aid offer

Along with your admission decision letter, Colgate will share a detailed aid offer. 


 

International students who do not apply for or qualify for Colgate need-based financial aid upon admission are not eligible for Colgate need-based financial aid in subsequent years.

Reapplying for Aid

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

  • Annual reapplication: U.S. citizens or permanent residents receiving financial aid must reapply each year to be considered for financial aid. The priority deadline to reapply for aid for the 2026–27 academic year is January 31, 2026.
  • Review your status: Log on to the Colgate Portal to confirm receipt of your financial aid application requirements and submit all missing financial aid materials in a timely manner.
  • Aid award notification: All continuing students may view their financial aid awards on the Colgate Portal by early June, provided all required financial aid applications and documents have been received.
     

 

International, Undocumented, and DACA

  • No annual reapplication needed: International students currently receiving financial aid do not need to reapply each year. Your eligibility will automatically be reviewed based on the initial application filed prior to enrollment.
  • Changes in citizenship: If an international student becomes a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen during their enrollment, they will be treated as domestic students and must reapply for aid annually.
  • Future aid: International students who did not qualify for Colgate financial aid upon admission are not eligible for it in subsequent years.

Additional Information

College Board IDOC requirements

If your financial aid application is selected for institutional or federal verification, additional documents will be required. You will be given access to the College Board IDOC portal to upload the required documents electronically. Any required forms will be made available for you within your IDOC portal. 

You will receive an email from the College Board once access to the portal is available. We can only accept documentation submitted via the IDOC portal. We cannot accept documents submitted via email, fax, or mail. 

Prospective students should log on to their Applicant Portal and current Colgate students should log on to their Colgate aid portal to confirm receipt of financial aid application requirements and to submit all missing financial aid materials in a timely manner.

Federal verification

Early decision applicants

Financial aid application requirements are the same for both early decision and regular decision candidates, only the deadlines are different.

Applying for early decision does not impact eligibility to receive financial aid. Any regular decision or early decision candidate who applies for financial aid on time and demonstrates financial need will have their need met in full.

Financial aid policies and procedures for incoming students

Prospective students will be considered for Colgate’s need-based aid only when they identify themselves as an aid applicant on their admission application and submit their CSS Profile and FAFSA, if required, by the application deadline for which they are applying. Colgate financial aid is offered based on demonstrated financial need; the university does not offer academic merit scholarships. Please read the policies that apply to your financial aid eligibility and financial aid offer.

Financial Aid Policies

Colgate grant assistance

Colgate grant assistance is limited to eight semesters for students who enter as first-year students. Courses transferred to complete Colgate degree requirements will reduce this eligibility.

Applying for federal student aid only

Domestic students applying only for federal student aid do not need to meet the deadlines noted above, and do not need to submit the CSS Profile. They may instead submit just the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at any time during, or in the months immediately preceding, the academic year for which they are seeking federal assistance.

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.