Colgate University Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 02/2025)

Colgate University, located in Hamilton, New York, is a prestigious private liberal arts college known for its rigorous academics, close-knit community, and picturesque campus. It also stands out for its small class sizes, which foster closer faculty-student relationships, and a strong core curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and global perspectives. Here’s an overview of Colgate tuition, fees, housing costs, acceptance rate, and more.

Total Cost of Attendance

Costs for 2023-2024

Colgate University’s total cost of attendance for 2023-24 was $87,070. Here’s how those costs break down:

•  Tuition & Fees: $67,024

•  Books & Supplies: $1,524

•  Room & Board: $16,790

•  Other Expenses: $1,732

•  Total Cost of Attendance: $87,070

Financial Aid

Half of students use one or more forms of financial aid to help with the Colgate University cost. This may be in the form of scholarships, loans, grants, or a combination of these.

For example, Pell Grants, federal funding for undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need, were awarded to 12% of Colgate students in the 2022-23 academic year.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education — Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) — A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  Scholarship Search Tool

Recommended: New York Student Loans & Scholarships

Private Student Loans

To help cover the cost of Colgate tuition, around 13% of students get federal student loans and roughly 4% take out private student loans (averaging $24,495 for the academic year).

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

Colgate has a high price tag. The combined cost for Colgate tuition, fees, books, room/board, and other expenses for four years would be $348,280 (based on 2023-24 numbers). This is far higher than the national average of $241,680 for four years at a private university.

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

The total cost of attendance (which includes the above costs plus room and board and other expenses) for undergraduates at Colgate was $87,070 in 2023-24. This is notably higher than the average annual cost of attendance for private colleges in the U.S., which is $60,420.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2023-24

•  Average tuition: $66,622

•  Fees: $402

•  Total: $67,024

Tuition and fees for graduate students at Colgate for 2023-24 averaged $67,024. This is significantly higher than the average cost of graduate school tuition and fees in the U.S., which is $21,730 per year.

There are many options for graduate loans that can help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

Based on a full course load (4.5 course credits, or 18 credit hours, per semester) and Colgate’s tuition and fees of $67,024, the cost per credit at Colgate comes out to $1,862.

Certificates

Colgate University offers a teaching certificate program. Students study education and also learn through experiences created to give them teaching effectiveness and leadership. The program has an emphasis on teaching to promote greater social justice and environmental responsibility.

Students who want to be teachers can earn a New York State Department of Education teacher certification at Colgate. This certificate can be completed in eight or nine semesters. The ninth semester is a tuition-free student teaching semester.

Colgate has a 12% acceptance rate, making it highly selective.