Transfer, Visiting, Special Exemption, and Readmission Student Admission
Transfer Application Dates
| Fall Semester Enrollment | Spring Semester Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline: March 15 Decision Notification: Late April |
Application Deadline: November 1 Decision Notification: Early December |
Determining your category at Colgate
When applying as a transfer student at Colgate, you should meet one of the following requirements:
- You have matriculated in a college-level degree program and now wish to attend Colgate.
- You possess an associate degree.
When applying as a visiting student, both of the following must be true:
- You want to spend one term at Colgate after spending a minimum of one term at your home college (requires home college approval).
- Your degree will still be awarded from your home college.
When applying as a special exemption student, the following are typically true:
- You are typically an area resident who cannot enroll for a full course load.
- This status is an exemption for special circumstances.
When applying for readmission, the following are true:
- You previously withdrew or were withdrawn from Colgate.
- Readmission is not guaranteed.
- Academic requirements are based on your time of readmission.
Students who have supplemented their high school curriculum with college-level classes in a non–degree-seeking program and students who have enrolled in a high school enrichment program associated with a college may have the option of applying to Colgate as either a first-year student or a transfer student.
The benefits and limitations for these options are outlined below:
Admission as a first-year student
- Permitted a total of six course credits of transfer/pre-matriculation work.
- Participate in first-year orientation.
- Enroll in a first-year seminar during your first semester; faculty member becomes adviser.
- Participate in first-year residential experience.
- Complete all four components of the core curriculum.
- Complete Global Engagements requirement.
- Fulfill Areas of Inquiry requirements.
- Apply using a first year-application.
- Admission available for fall term.
Admission as a transfer student
- Permitted up to 16 course credits of transfer/pre-matriculation work.
- Participate in transfer orientation.
- Register for classes with appropriate class year.
- The number of required core classes is determined by class year.
- Complete Global Engagements requirement.
- May be able to fulfill Areas of Inquiry requirements with transfer credits.
- Obtain on-campus housing based on entering class year.
- Apply using a transfer application.
- May be admitted for fall or spring terms.
Application Checklist
- Complete the Common Application or the Coalition on Scoir.
- $60 application fee or fee waiver.
The application fee is waived for non-U.S. citizens and 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. If you qualify for a fee waiver through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir, we do not require an official fee waiver form.
- Official high school transcript(s). Must be sent by the student’s high school and must include date of graduation.
- Official college transcript(s). Must be sent by the institution(s) attended.
- College Official’s Report. Must be sent by the person completing the form (Common Application College Report or Coalition Application Transfer Report).
- Mid-Year Report (Common Application Mid-Term Report or Coalition Application Curriculum Report). To complete this form, please ask your instructors for your grades in your current courses. Record your grades in the form along with any comments from your instructors. You may mail or scan and email the completed form to admission@colgate.edu.
- Academic Evaluation. It must be sent by the person completing the form. For the Common Application, provide your faculty member's email within the transfer application. For the Coalition on Scoir, use this form.
- Essay included on application.
- 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 academic achievement. When students choose not to submit standardized test scores, the Office of Admission evaluates their academic achievement through all other elements of the application.
- 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 or Coalition on Scoir. Additionally, students may send a copy of their score reports to admission@colgate.edu.
- 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.
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores are required for non-native English speaking students who do not study at a secondary school or college/university where English is the primary language of instruction. These scores must be sent from the official testing agency.
- Application
- $60 application fee or fee waiver.
The application fee is waived for non-U.S. citizens and 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. If you qualify for a fee waiver through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir, we do not require an official fee waiver form.
- Official high school transcript(s). Must be sent by the student’s high school and must include date of graduation.
- Official college transcript(s). Must be sent by the institution(s) attended.
- College Official’s Report. Must be sent by the person completing the form (Common Application College Report or Coalition Application Transfer Report).
- Academic Evaluation. Must be sent by the person completing the form.
- 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 academic achievement. When students choose not to submit standardized test scores, the Office of Admission evaluates their academic achievement through all other elements of the application.
- 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 or Coalition on Scoir. Additionally, students may send a copy of their score reports to admission@colgate.edu.
- 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.
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores are required for non-native English speaking students who do not study at a secondary school or college/university where English is the primary language of instruction. These scores must be sent from the official testing agency.
- Application form
- $60 application fee or fee waiver.
The application fee is waived for non-U.S. citizens and 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. If you qualify for a fee waiver through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir, we do not require an official fee waiver form.
- Official high school transcript(s). Must be sent by the student’s high school and must include date of graduation.
- Official college transcript(s). Must be sent by the institution(s) attended.
- College Official’s Report. Must be sent by the person completing the form (Common Application College Report or Coalition Application Transfer Report).
- 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 academic achievement. When students choose not to submit standardized test scores, the Office of Admission evaluates their academic achievement through all other elements of the application.
- 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 or Coalition on Scoir. Additionally, students may send a copy of their score reports to admission@colgate.edu.
- 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.
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores are required for non-native English speaking students who do not study at a secondary school or college/university where English is the primary language of instruction. These scores must be sent from the official testing agency.
- Readmission form
- College Official’s Report. Must be sent by the person completing the form.
- Academic Evaluation. Must be sent by the person completing the form.
- Official college transcript(s). Must be sent by the institution(s) attended since withdrawal from Colgate.
- Mid-Term Report.
- Other information may be required based on a review of the student’s record. The Colgate Office of Admission will work with the Dean of the College division to determine if additional documentation is required.
- Letter from student to Office of Admission indicating if the student wishes to apply for financial aid.
Supplementary Materials
Students wishing to document specific extracurricular achievements in high school and/or college 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 section, detailed above. 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. 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 the respective 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 App, Coalition on Scoir, 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.