Aid Eligibility
The financial aid program at 藏精阁 is need-based and the university does not offer academic merit scholarships. 藏精阁 meets full demonstrated financial need for all aid recipients.
Prospective students will be considered for 藏精阁's need-based aid only when they identify as an aid applicant on their admission application and submit their aid application materials before an admission decision is made.
Institutional aid eligibility (藏精阁 Grant and 藏精阁 Work Study) is determined using the CSS Profile, which calculates an expected family contribution for the student. In the case of divorced or separated parents, both parents must submit a CSS Profile, and each parent's household information is used in the calculation of the expected family contribution.
The expected family contribution is calculated by taking into account a family's financial circumstances such as income, assets, and the number of siblings under age 24 who are enrolled full-time in programs leading to a first undergraduate degree. Demonstrated financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance at 藏精阁 and the expected family contribution.
Domestic students with a total family income of up to $175,000 (and assets typical for that income range) are eligible for the 藏精阁 Commitment.
Students applying for institutional aid are considered for all sources of financial aid, including federal, state, and institutional grants, loans, and employment. The composition of an aid offer depends on several factors, including the extent of a student's financial need, eligibility for other aid resources, and the availability of funds.
Domestic students receiving financial aid must reapply annually to continue to be considered for assistance. International students currently receiving financial aid do not need to reapply for aid annually. International students who did not receive 藏精阁 Grant upon admission are not eligible for 藏精阁 Grant in subsequent years.
Institutional aid eligibility is limited to eight semesters for students who enter as first-year students.
Need-based financial aid is considered supplemental to the resources of the family, including the student. 藏精阁 does not offer financial assistance based on students having voluntarily declared themselves independent of their parents, or if parents are unwilling to financially support their child at 藏精阁. Students under age 27 are considered dependent by 藏精阁 and parent information is required on financial aid applications. Students who matriculate as dependent students will remain dependent for financial aid purposes throughout their enrollment at 藏精阁.
Financial aid is not available in the summer.
To be eligible for federal aid, dependent students and their families or independent students, must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at and meet , including Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The Office of Financial Aid confirms aid eligibility and processes amounts based on federal regulations in effect for each federal program.
Every year, the Department of Education selects a number of students' FAFSA applications for a process known as verification. If a student is selected for verification, the required documents that must be submitted to complete verification will be listed on the student's 藏精阁 portal under their financial aid requirements. Financial aid will not display as an anticipated credit on the student's account, nor will it be credited to the student's bill at the usual time of disbursement (week prior to the first day of classes), if the student does not complete the federal verification requirements. Late submission of required documents will result in late disbursement of financial aid. Failure to submit documents could result in a student's ineligibility for financial aid.
Financial aid is not available in the summer.
To be considered for the New York (NY) Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), NY state residents must apply annually with NY state Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Students can begin the TAP application process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at and by completing the TAP application directly at . Undocumented and other students may apply for eligibility under the provisions of the NYS DREAM Act.
HESC determines the applicant鈥檚 eligibility and the amount of an annual TAP award. Eligibility requirements are listed on the HESC . 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 aid. Undergraduate students may generally receive TAP grants for eight semesters of study.
For a full listing of NYS Aid programs, including application procedures and selection criteria, visit the HESC .
Veterans Administration (VA) Educational Benefits *
- Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance (Chapter 32)
- Dependent and Survivors Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
- Montgomery GI Bill庐 (Chapter 30)
- Vocational Rehabilitation for Service-Disabled Veterans
- Montgomery GI Bill庐 Selected Reserves Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606)
- Post 9/11 GI Bill庐 (Chapter 33)
* Application Procedures: Application forms, information, and assistance in applying for benefits are available at .
If admitted, students who enroll at 藏精阁 will need to submit a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the Office of Financial Aid.
Outside entitlement aid such as VA educational benefits reduce a student's 藏精阁 Grant amount dollar for dollar.
Yellow Ribbon
藏精阁 participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a component of the Post-9/11 GI Bill庐. Eligible military veterans can learn more at . Please note that veterans must be entitled to the maximum benefit rate in order to be 鈥 or to have their dependents be 鈥 considered for the Yellow Ribbon program.
Classes are held in residence on the 藏精阁 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. If studying abroad, the housing allowance may be determined by the study abroad location.
The Yellow Ribbon program is considered non-need-based aid. The Yellow Ribbon program covers tuition and fees in full. Students also receive an allowance for books paid directly to them. A housing allowance is also paid directly towards the student and may be used towards housing and food charges. The amount of the housing allowance is determined by the VA each year. The Yellow Ribbon program does not cover the additional expense of a 藏精阁 directed off-campus study or extended study group, or a 藏精阁 approved program. Federal loans may be available to help cover these additional costs.
Career Outcomes
For more information regarding career and continuing education outcomes, visit Success after 藏精阁.
Degree Attainment
More information on requirements needed to complete a student's educational program and graduate from 藏精阁 can be found in the 藏精阁 catalog. Enrolled students can also monitor their progress on Degree Works.
Adjustment of Aid
Entitlement aid such as VA educational benefits reduce a student's 藏精阁 Grant amount dollar for dollar.
Enrollment
Veteran's benefits are packaged based on anticipated full-time enrollment. Enrollment is verified at time of certification and re-checked and verified after the semester drop/add period ends. Repeat courses cannot be certified except under special circumstances, and otherwise do not count towards full-time enrollment. Dropping below full-time enrollment will also cause a drop in a student's estimated eligibility.
Students should contact the Financial Aid office immediately should they plan to drop below full-time enrollment, or enroll in any repeat courses, to discuss what changes they can anticipate.
Support
For assistance with financial questions, contact the Financial Aid Office at 315-228-7431 or send email to finaid@colgate.edu.
For assistance with health and wellness, advising and student support, and residence life, go to the Dean of the College webpage for links to campus resources, or contact your Administrative Dean at 315-228-7368, 315-228-6131 or admindeans@colgate.edu.
For academic support, accessibility resources, or disability services, go to the Office of Disability Services webpage for links to campus resources, call Evelyn Lester, Director of Disability Services at 315-228-7375 or send email to elester@colgate.edu.
To be eligible for federal aid, a student must be enrolled at least half-time as a matriculated student at 藏精阁 (including 藏精阁 study groups or approved programs). Federal Pell Grant recipients may be enrolled less than half time and will have Federal Pell Grant amounts prorated based on enrollment at the conclusion of the semester add/drop registration period.
For New York State (NYS) aid, students must be enrolled full-time in courses that apply to their degree program. 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.
Veteran's benefits are packaged based on anticipated full-time enrollment. Enrollment is verified at time of certification and after the semester drop/add period ends. Repeat courses cannot be certified except under special circumstances, and otherwise do not count towards full-time enrollment. Dropping below full-time enrollment will reduce estimated veteran's benefits eligibility.
Below are the definitions of what constitutes each enrollment level for undergraduate and graduate students at 藏精阁 for financial aid purposes:
Undergraduate Enrollment Level
Full-time* = 3 course credits
3/4 time = 2.5 course credits
1/2 time = 1.5 course credits
Graduate Enrollment Level
Full-time* = 3 course credits
3/4 time = 2.5 course credits
1/2 time = 2 course credits
*Enrollment in repeat courses can affect financial aid eligibility. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have questions on how enrolling in repeat courses may affect your aid eligibility.
Domestic students (U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens) must reapply for financial aid annually by submitting required financial aid application materials by the published priority deadline. Changes in demonstrated need will impact the amount and types of financial aid available each year. To report significant changes in your family's financial situation, please contact the Office of Financial Aid so that your change in circumstances can be taken into consideration when reviewing your financial aid eligibility. A 藏精阁 Grant is not guaranteed for late applicants.
International students who receive financial aid for their first year do not reapply for aid annually. Financial aid eligibility will automatically be reviewed based upon the initial application filed prior to enrollment. International students who become U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens during their enrollment will be treated as domestic students thereafter and must reapply for aid annually. International students who did not receive 藏精阁 Grant upon admission are not eligible for 藏精阁 Grant in subsequent years.
Institutional aid eligibility is limited to eight semesters for both domestic and international students who enter as first-year students.
Federal Aid Renewal
Students must meet federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements in order to remain eligible for federal (Title IV) aid.
State Aid Renewal
Students must meet all requirements listed on the HESC including, but not limited to, maintaining New York State (NYS) Good Academic Standing (Satisfactory Academic Progress and Pursuit of Program requirements) and enrolling full-time in course credits required for their program of study.
See the University for more information on renewal requirements.
TAP Waiver Policy
The Office of Financial Aid will notify students who are not meeting requirements for NYS aid. Instructions on how to submit a written request for a waiver will be included in the notification.
Students will be notified of the outcome of their waiver request via email. Subsequently, eligibility can be reestablished by successfully meeting the state鈥檚 requirements.
Aid Reconsideration
To request reconsideration of 藏精阁 Grant offered, recently admitted students must contact the Office of Financial Aid before paying an enrollment deposit.
藏精阁 knows that each family鈥檚 situation is unique, and does its best to understand a family鈥檚 financial circumstances during the initial review of the financial aid application. If you have special circumstances that do not seem to have been accounted for, or if the information you provided in your financial aid application has changed, was incorrect, or was incomplete, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Situations that may warrant an appeal for 藏精阁 Grant reconsideration include: errors on the CSS Profile, job loss, high medical expenses not covered by insurance, or one-time income in the tax year used on the financial aid applications. Examples of circumstances that are not taken into consideration include: parent unwillingness to contribute to educational expenses, graduate school costs for siblings and/or other family members, financial aid offers from other schools, elder care, high consumer/personal debt, and expenses or events that have not yet occurred.
Submission of a request for reconsideration does not guarantee an adjustment to aid eligibility will be made.
Recently Admitted Students
藏精阁 Grant offers for your first year at 藏精阁 are binding once your enrollment deposit is received. To discuss your 藏精阁 Grant eligibility, it is important that you contact the Office of Financial Aid before your deposit is paid. Deposited/enrolled students are not prohibited from reporting special or unusual circumstances related to their federal student aid eligibility upon submission of the FAFSA and/or throughout the academic year. Find information in the Federal Aid Appeal section.
Current Domestic Students
After you receive your financial aid notification, if you have any questions or concerns, contact the Office of Financial Aid. Enrolled students may contact the Office of Financial Aid throughout the academic year if unusual circumstances arise.
Occasionally, students or their families may experience special or unusual circumstances that could impact federal student aid eligibility. Special circumstances may include a loss of income, high out-of-pocket medical expenses, or a change in parent marital status, for example. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@colgate.edu to report special circumstances. On a case-by-case basis, the Financial Aid Office can exercise professional judgment, potentially resulting in an adjustment to federal student aid. Adjustments will not be considered based on parents refusing to contribute to the student鈥檚 cost of education or unwillingness to provide required application materials.
Undergraduates under the age of 24 who answer 鈥渘o鈥 to the dependency questions on the FAFSA are considered to be dependent students and are instructed to have parent(s) contribute to the FAFSA and provide their financial information. 藏精阁 recognizes that some students may face challenges which could prevent them from completing the FAFSA as a dependent student. Examples of this type of unusual circumstances may include an abusive family environment, incarceration of both parents, or when parents cannot be located. On a case-by-case basis, the Financial Aid Office can exercise professional judgment to process a dependency override on the FAFSA.
To report special or unusual circumstances, contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@colgate.edu. Requests must be received in writing and could require additional documentation. Submitting a request does not guarantee a change will be made. If additional documentation is required, students will be instructed to securely upload materials to the College Board IDOC Portal. To guard against identity theft, do not send email containing sensitive personally identifiable information (social security numbers, account numbers, tax documents, etc.) via email. Written requests from enrolled students will be reviewed within 2-3 weeks, and students will be notified of the outcome via email.
Aid Processing
Students offered work-study or loans as part of their financial aid are required to actively accept or decline those offers on their 藏精阁 Financial Aid under the "Pending Aid Offered" link. Grants are automatically accepted on behalf of the student. All financial aid disbursements (payments to the student account) may be delayed if work-study or loans are left in 鈥減ending鈥 status.
藏精阁 reserves the right to modify the financial aid listed in an aid offer upon receipt of information affecting eligibility for financial aid. This can include, but is not limited to, changes in government funding, receipt of aid from other sources, verification of the number of siblings under age 24 enrolled in their first undergraduate programs, or any new information received after the initial calculation of financial aid eligibility.
Outside entitlement aid from state or federal sources -- including veteran's benefits -- as well as tuition benefits received from a parent's employer reduce the 藏精阁 Grant dollar for dollar.
Unless otherwise noted, the amount(s) listed in the aid offer are annual amounts, with one half applied to the student account each semester. As long as all financial aid application requirements have been completed and processed before the semester begins, aid will be disbursed during the week prior to the first day of classes.
Work study is not credited to the student account; instead, biweekly pay is issued directly to students for the hours worked in a Student Employment position.
More information on federal loans, including how to apply, can be found on our Types of Aid page.
If a student receives a scholarship or tuition benefit from somewhere other than 藏精阁, they must report it to the Office of Financial Aid using the Outside Resource Form on the 藏精阁 .
Outside scholarships that are awarded based on merit may often be used to offset educational costs. The combination of outside aid and financial aid from 藏精阁 cannot exceed the annual cost of attendance. Outside aid awarded based on merit will first offset a student鈥檚 family contribution, work-study, and/or loan. 藏精阁 Grant will only be reduced to prevent total financial aid from exceeding the annual cost of attendance.
Outside entitlement aid from state or federal sources -- including veteran's benefits -- as well as tuition benefits received from a parent's employer reduce the 藏精阁 Grant dollar for dollar.