Financial Aid

Colgate provides financial aid to students who are accepted for admission, submit all financial aid application requirements on-time, and have demonstrated the need for financial assistance. Prospective students will be considered for Colgate’s need-based aid only when they apply for financial aid before an admission decision is made. Colgate is committed to meeting the demonstrated financial need of all admitted students, but the admission process is not need-blind. A limited number of Colgate grant awards are reserved each year for international students.

Eligibility

The composition of a student’s financial aid offer depends on several factors, including the extent of a student’s financial need, eligibility for other aid resources, the availability of funds, and the date of application. Students who have applied for aid are automatically considered for all sources of financial aid, including federal, state, and institutional grants, loans, and employment.

The amount of aid varies with need, as demonstrated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile^TM. If a student’s biological or adoptive parents are not married/partnered or living together, their information (and that of their spouse/partner/significant other) must be provided in separate CSS Profile^TM applications. The custodial parent (and their spouse, if remarried) must complete the FAFSA and the CSS Profile^TM. Additional documentation may be required after initial review. 

Limitations

1. Colgate grant assistance is limited to a maximum of eight terms of enrollment for students who matriculate as first-year dependent students.
2. Students who first matriculate as dependent students will remain dependent for financial aid purposes through completion of their degree requirements. Increased grant assistance from Colgate is not available to students who marry or who voluntarily declare themselves independent of their parents. Colgate is not able to offer assistance if parents are unwilling to support the student at Colgate.
3. Colgate grant assistance is applicable only to resident student programs and Colgate-directed off-campus programs and approved programs.
4. Colgate grant recipients could receive additional assistance for one Colgate-directed off-campus study group or approved program and one Colgate-directed extended study program. Colgate grant assistance is awarded to meet the extra costs after loans have been increased by $1,500. (For additional information, inquire at the Office of Financial Aid.)
5. Students attending another institution on an academic leave of absence are not eligible for state, federal, or institutional aid.
6. Visiting students are not eligible for Colgate financial assistance.
7. Financial aid is not available to international students who do not receive Colgate grant assistance as an entering student.
8. Financial aid is not available in the summer.
9. Colgate University does not enter into financial aid consortium agreements with other schools.
10. Students receiving Federal student aid and/or New York State financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress and pursuit of program standards for continuance of such aid. Those standards appear below in the New York State Programs section and Federal Programs sections of this catalog.
11. Colgate reserves the right to modify the financial aid listed in an award offer upon receipt of information affecting eligibility for financial aid. This can include, but is not limited to, changes in government funding, receipt of awards from other sources, verification of the number of siblings enrolled in undergraduate programs, or any new information received after the initial calculation of financial aid eligibility.

Continuation of Aid

Domestic students (U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents) must apply for financial aid each year to be considered for assistance. International students receiving financial aid in their first year do not need to apply for aid annually; eligibility will automatically be reviewed based upon the initial application filed prior to admission.

Veterans Benefits and the Yellow Ribbon Program

Classes are held in residence on the Colgate University campus located at: 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, New York 13346. Students receiving veterans benefits that include a housing allowance will have their housing allowance determined by the campus zip code.

Colgate participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a component of the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. Eligible military veterans can learn more at benefits.va.gov/gibill. Please note that veterans must be entitled to the maximum benefit rate in order to be — or to have their dependents be — considered for this program.

The Yellow Ribbon benefit is a non-need-based award. The Yellow Ribbon benefit, alongside Chapter 33 - Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, will cover on-campus expenses for tuition and fees. Students utilizing their Chapter 33 Benefits will also receive a housing allowance and book stipend. The Yellow Ribbon benefit does not cover the additional expense of a Colgate directed off-campus study or extended study group, or a Colgate approved program. Federal loans may be available to help cover these additional costs.

Veterans Administration (VA) Educational Benefits *

1. Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance (Chapter 32)
2. Dependent and Survivors Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
3. Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30)
4. Vocational Rehabilitation for Service-Disabled Veterans
5. Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserves Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606)
6. Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

VA and DOD education benefits do not factor into federal student aid (Title IV aid) eligibility; they are excluded from estimated financial assistance so they do not impact Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans, or Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant eligibility. However, VA and DOD education benefits may reduce institutional Colgate Grant dollar-for-dollar.

* Application Procedures: Application forms, information, and assistance in applying for benefits are available at gibill.va.gov.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government web site at benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Athletic Scholarships

Colgate offers non-need-based athletic scholarships in selected sports through the Department of Athletics. The scholarship covers partial or all on-campus expenses for tuition, housing, meals, and books. Athletic scholarships do not cover the additional expenses of a Colgate directed off-campus study or extended study group, or a Colgate approved program. Federal Direct loans may be available to help cover these additional costs.

MAT Financial Assistance

Financial aid is available for students accepted into the Master of Arts in Teaching MAT program. Institutional grant aid will be awarded for 80 percent of tuition charges for all MAT students. Federal loans for US citizens or permanent residents may be available to pay for the remaining tuition, student activity fee, living costs, and miscellaneous expenses. To determine eligibility for these federal loans, the applicant must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In order to receive these federal loans a student must be enrolled at least half time. Financial aid is offered one semester at a time and is dependent on the number of courses for which a student is registered each semester. Additional information about financial aid can be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Aid, 315-228-7431 or colgate.edu/financialaid.

Standard, Current Descriptions of Financial Aid Programs

New York State Programs

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Application Procedures: Applicants must apply annually to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), Albany, New York 12255. The application deadline for the current academic year is June 30. Students can begin the TAP application process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at fafsa.gov, or by completing the TAP application directly at hesc.ny.gov.

The Higher Education Services Corporation determines the applicant’s eligibility and notifies the applicant indicating the amount of the grant. The postsecondary institution may defer payment on the basis of receipt of the award certificate. Actual payment is received after the school certifies student eligibility.

Selection of Recipients and Allocation of Awards: Tuition Assistance Program is an entitlement program for legal residents of New York State who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. Other eligibility requirements are listed on the hesc.ny.gov website. The amount of the award is dependent on state legislation and can vary from year to year.

Students must be in good academic standing and enrolled full-time in courses that apply to their degree program to be eligible for their NYS award. Enrollment in three course credits constitutes full-time enrollment. Students may not be enrolled in repeat courses unless one of the following conditions apply: the student is repeating a failed course; the student is repeating a course in which the grade earned would ordinarily be passing but is a failure in a particular curriculum; the student is repeating a course where credit will be earned each time.

Recipients must not be in default of a loan guaranteed by the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Under certain circumstances, defaulted borrowers can be reinstated for TAP eligibility by HESC. 

Undergraduate students may generally receive TAP awards for eight semesters of study. For semester limits on other awards, please visit the HESC website.

Continuation of Awards: Eligibility for renewal of New York State awards is dependent upon remaining in good academic standing. To maintain good academic standing, a student must be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree and pursuing the program of study. Note that satisfactory academic progress for New York State awards differ from federal satisfactory academic progress. Good academic standing is evaluated each semester in which a New York State award is received.

For pursuit of the program of study, students must enroll in a certain number of credit hours each semester and earn a specific number of credit hours for that semester. For the first year an award is received, a student must earn 50% of the minimum full-time course load for each term. For the second year an award is received, this is increased to 75%, and it increases to 100% in each term of the third year and subsequent semesters an award is received thereafter. Courses assigned grades of W, I, and NG are not considered to have been completed and do not count towards the pursuit of program requirement.

For satisfactory academic progress, students must maintain a specified grade point average and a pace leading to completion of his or her degree within a specified time period. The table below illustrates the specific requirements needed to receive TAP for satisfactory academic progress. The number of course credits that must be accrued depends on the number of TAP payments the student has received, not on the year of enrollment. Visit the NYS HESC website for full information.

The minimum standards of eligibility for undergraduate students are listed in the chart below:

Students who have received the equivalent of two or more full years of state-funded student financial aid must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of C (2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale) or better to be eligible for continued state-funded assistance. If a student is not in good academic standing, they may be able to appeal and request a waiver. Students not in good academic standing will be contacted by the Office of Financial Aid with further guidance and instructions.

Memorial Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased Police Officers, Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Peace Officers, and Emergency Medical Service Workers
Regents Awards for Child of Deceased or Disabled Veteran (CV)
Nursing Faculty Scholarship
Veterans Tuition Awards
New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence
World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship
Military Service Recognition Scholarship
State Aid to Native Americans
New York State Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship

Source and contact for programs described above: New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12255, 888-697-4372, hesc.com

Vocational Rehabilitation

Application Procedures: Persons with disabilities may obtain a list of local Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) offices from: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, New York State Education Department, 1 Commerce Plaza, 19th Floor, Albany, New York 12234.

Selection of Recipients and Allocation of Awards: Any person with a substantial employment disability, who can become employable within a reasonable period of time, may be eligible. OVR serves those having any physical, emotional, or intellectual disability except blindness.

Persons legally blind are served by the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, State Department of Social Services, 40 North Pearl Street, Albany, New York 12243.

Eligible applicants may receive counseling, medical examinations and other evaluation services, physical and mental restoration services, and instruction and training including that given at institutions of postsecondary education.

Clients are asked to share the expenses, based upon state standards, of some of the services provided, such as college or university expenses to enable that client to attain his/her vocational objective. The client is required to maintain an average of C or better.

Federal Programs

Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress for continued Federal Student Aid Eligibility: Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements in order to remain eligible for federal (Title IV) aid. Federal aid at Colgate includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study Program, and the Federal Direct Loan Program.

In order to meet the minimum SAP standards, students must successfully complete 67% of the cumulative course credits that they attempt and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Total completed credits are calculated by dividing a student’s total number of earned credits by a student’s total number of attempted credits. Withdrawals, repetitions, and transfer credits (not including AP credits) are considered part of a student’s attempted credit total. For attempted credit(s) a student was unable to successfully complete as a result of the COVID-19 qualifying emergency, from the Spring 2020 to Spring 2023 semesters at Colgate, these credits may be excluded from the SAP calculation, after it has been reasonably determined that the student’s failure to complete those credits was the result of a COVID-19 related circumstance. Beginning in Fall 2023, this flexibility no longer applies per the Department of Education, as the COVID-19 national emergency ended effective May 11, 2023. Attempted credits not successfully completed as a result of the COVID-19 qualifying emergency from Spring 2020 to Spring 2023 are taken into consideration at the point a student is not meeting SAP standards for a 2nd consecutive semester.

Students must also complete their programs within 150% of the normal program length. The maximum time frame is reached when the student has attempted more than one-and-one-half the number of course credit hours required to earn the degree. The maximum time-frame standard for transfer students will consider only those course credit hours attempted at Colgate University, as well as those accepted for transfer credit by the university.

The Office of Financial Aid reviews the academic records of all students at the end of each semester. In addition, the Committee on Standards and Academic Standing (CSAS) reviews the academic performance of all students each semester. SAP standards and CSAS standards are separate with each having their own requirements.

The first time a student does not meet SAP standards, the student will be placed in a Financial Aid Warning Status. This means the student is one term away from losing federal financial aid eligibility. The student is still eligible for financial aid and no appeal is necessary at this stage. The student is considered to have used their Warning Status for the term even if they did not receive federal (Title IV) aid for that term.

The second consecutive semester in which the student does not meet the SAP standards, the student will be required to take action in order to be eligible for federal aid. Federal financial aid eligibility may be regained by submitting a financial aid appeal with supporting documentation to the Office of Financial Aid and, if approved, federal financial aid will be reinstated and the student will be placed on a Financial Aid Probation Status for one semester. Students must achieve the minimum SAP standards by the end of their probationary period to remain eligible for federal aid. 

Eligibility Requirements for Federal Student Aid: To apply for federal student aid, a student must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at FAFSA.gov. Students meeting the federal definition of a “dependent student” must report parent information on the FAFSA. Basic eligibility for federal student aid requires a student to be: a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen, enrolled at least half-time as a matriculated student in an eligible degree program (students can be enrolled less than half time for Pell Grants), students must not be in default or owe a refund for any Federal Title IV aid at any institution. The Office of Financial Aid confirms federal student aid eligibility. The amount offered and awarded is based on federal regulations in effect for each federal program.

Federal Pell Grants

The Federal Pell Grant is an entitlement program. A student’s eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant is determined after the Financial Aid Office receives the results from a valid, processed FAFSA. The award amount is determined using the student’s Federal Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the institution’s cost of attendance, and the student’s enrollment status (i.e. full time, part time). Federal Pell Grant awards are calculated based on a payment schedule approved annually by Congress.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

Eligible students are selected by the Office of Financial Aid. Awards are made to eligible students with the lowest federal EFC (Expected Family Contribution).

Federal Direct Loans

Federal Direct Loans are available to eligible undergraduate students who submit a valid processed FAFSA, regardless of family income. Borrowing limits are established by the U.S. Department of Education: $5,500 for first year students, $6,500 for second year students, and $7,500 for third and fourth year students. Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 in a federal direct unsubsidized loan in an academic year. Undergraduate students may be eligible to borrow through the subsidized portion of the Federal Direct Loan program, in which no interest accrues while the student is enrolled at least half time. However, at least $2,000 of each of these amounts can be offered only through the unsubsidized portion of the program.

For federal student aid purposes, year in school is defined in the table below:

The interest rate is established annually on July 1 and is a fixed rate for the life of the loan. Interest rates can be found at studentaid.ed.gov. In the unsubsidized portion of the program, interest accrues while the student is in school and may be paid or capitalized. In both portions of the program borrowers pay an origination fee of roughly 1%. Colgate will award as much subsidized loan as possible before awarding unsubsidized loan; however, in some cases the student is eligible for an unsubsidized loan only.

Repayment is deferred as long as the student remains enrolled at least half-time and for a six month grace period after he/she ceases to be enrolled at least a half-time. Payment of principal may also be deferred for certain categories of borrowers: (1) rehabilitation training; (2) unemployment; (3) economic hardship including the Peace Corps, and (4) during a period of active military service. After ceasing to be at least a half-time student, the borrower must make formal arrangements with the Department of Education’s servicer to begin repayment. Depending on the amount of the loan, the minimum monthly payment will be $50 plus interest. Under unusual and extenuating circumstances the servicer, on request, may permit reduced payments. Repayment in whole or part may be made at any time without penalty.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan

To apply for this loan the borrower (who must be the parent of a dependent undergraduate student) initiates the application at studentaid.gov. To qualify for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, parent borrowers must not have an adverse credit history. Federal Student Aid will conduct a credit check on all Direct PLUS Loan applicants. The maximum loan that can be borrowed is the cost of attendance, minus other aid. Interest rates can be found at studentaid.gov. An origination fee is deducted upon disbursement by the Department of Education. Repayment begins 60 days after the full amount of the loan is disbursed.

Federal Work-Study Program

Work-study offered in a financial aid package may be earned by working in a part-time job on campus. Students typically work up to 8-10 hours per week, and cannot exceed 20 hours per week. Like any part-time job, students apply for available jobs and, once hired, submit timesheets to be paid for hours worked. To find a position, students must search the Student Employment section of the Colgate Portal. Available job openings are typically advertised on the Portal shortly before the start of each semester, along with instructions on how to apply. Assistance in finding a job is available from the Office of Student Employment, in the Division of Human Resources.

The amount of work-study offered in the financial aid package is only an approximation of what a student might earn during the academic year. Students are not obligated to earn the full amount, and Colgate will not penalize students or make adjustments if they learn less or more than the amount indicated in the financial aid package.

United States Bureau of Indian Affairs Aid to Native Americans

Higher Education Grants: The grant application is available from the education office of the tribe in which you are affiliated or possess membership. As the majority of federally recognized tribes are administering the grant program for their tribal members, call your tribe first. A tribal directory is located on the Department of the Interior’s website. If your tribe is not administering the grant program, they can direct you to the nearest Office of Indian Education Programs Education Line Officer for the application (OMB No. 1076-0101), with instructions for completing and returning the application. More information can be found online at olep.bia.edu.

Additional Information

Additional information may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid, 315-228-7431 or colgate.edu/financialaid.