The Colgate Commitment

The Colgate Commitment marks a milestone in the University’s progress to make a Colgate education affordable to as many talented, high-achieving students as possible, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

For eligible domestic students, this comprehensive financial aid initiative will:

eliminate tuition,
significantly reduce student debt, and
adjust tuition based on the family's income levels.

Full Tuition Support

Students with an annual family income of $80,000 or less will attend Colgate tuition-free.

Aligning Income and Tuition Costs

Students with annual family income levels between $80,000 and $175,000 will pay a percentage of annual income toward tuition.

Expanding the No-Loan Initiative

Students with annual family income levels up to $175,000 will have their demonstrated need met with a financial aid package that does not include loans.

$80,000 or less

Tuition-free
No-loan eligible

$80,000–$125,000

5% of income toward tuition, on average
No-loan eligible

$125,000–$175,000

10% of income toward tuition, on average
No-loan eligible

$175,000 or more

The University continues to meet 100% of the demonstrated need of all admitted students.

Domestic students with a total family income of up to $175,000 (and assets typical for that income range) are eligible for the Colgate Commitment.

Total income is calculated using taxable income (e.g. wages, interest, business income, retirement distributions, etc.) plus untaxed income (e.g. child support, social security, retirement distributions, etc.).

Losses are added back into income (e.g. business losses, capital losses, and depreciation on real and/or rental property could be added back in to be counted as part of total family income). Business income includes income generated from sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, or rental income.

Assets include bank accounts, investments, home equity, and business net worth, for example, but do not include retirement savings.

Tuition-free means a student’s Colgate Grant will cover the amount of a student’s tuition charge for the academic year. A family may still have a family contribution assessed to go towards other components of the cost of attendance, such as housing, food, books, etc. Colgate meets 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need based on the full cost of attendance for the academic year.

Families still need to make important decisions about their approach to financing their educational costs. Students who qualify for the Colgate Commitment have their demonstrated need met with a financial aid package that does not include loans. Students and families are still be responsible for their family’s contribution to the cost of attendance, and may elect to include loans as part of their strategy for financing these costs.

Yes, although eligible students do not have loans automatically added to the initial financial aid offer, they still have access to the Federal Direct Loan program upon request. Eligibility for the Colgate Commitment neither impacts a student’s nor a parent’s ability to borrow under the Federal Direct Loan program, or to seek financing through a private educational loan.

The financial aid policies for students attending off-campus study programs are unchanged. Colgate Grant recipients can receive additional financial aid to meet the extra costs for one semester-long and one extended-study program. A loan of no more than $1,500 will be offered to help cover the extra cost of the program, regardless of loans offered for on-campus study.

The Colgate Commitment is specifically for domestic students. However, Colgate has always met 100% of all admitted students’ demonstrated need, including international students. Colgate has never used loans to help cover the need of international students. When calculating a student’s level of need, we take into account all components of the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, meals, and other academic costs), and a student’s ability to cover those costs based on the results of the financial aid application.

International students who do not apply for or receive Colgate financial aid upon admission are not eligible for aid in subsequent years, so there would not be any financial aid available throughout enrollment at Colgate, in that instance, including aid that comes from the Colgate Commitment.

No, Federal Work-Study and Colgate Work-Study will continue to be offered to eligible students, even if their total family income is less than $175,000. Students offered work-study as part of their financial aid may work in a part-time job during the academic year to earn the amount offered. Students with work-study awards will receive priority in hiring for most on-campus jobs. Generally, students work 10-12 hours per week to earn the amount in their financial aid offer.

Domestic student’s eligibility for financial aid is reevaluated prior to each academic year. Financial aid is offered on an annual basis, determined after careful analysis of the aid application materials submitted. If your family’s financial situation changes, the amount and type of financial aid offered may be adjusted in a subsequent academic year.

Lizeth in her cap and gown at her high school graduation holding a Colgate pennant.

Lizeth Mora Guerrero ’24

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Noah Bernstein ’20

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The Colgate Commitment

The Composition of the Colgate Commitment