Colgate University's published cost of attendance is $87,070. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $6,086, middle-income families pay around $13,617, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,234.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $87,070 |
| Tuition and Fees | $70,306 |
| Room and Board | $17,610 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,570 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$58,284 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $28,786 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $6,086 |
| $30–48k | $2,678 |
| $48–75k | $13,617 |
| $75–110k | $21,831 |
| $110k+ | $48,234 |
Colgate University's published cost of attendance is $87,070. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $6,086, middle-income families pay around $13,617, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,234. Azimuth ranks Colgate University #1028 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Colgate University meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. The aid structure is need-based, with no merit component; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Institutional aid covers a substantial portion of cost for most students, and work-study is available as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $59,463; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,917, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of Colgate University earn median 4-year earnings of $77,917, placing the institution in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,275 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Azimuth ranks Colgate University #160 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 89.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Colgate University's concentration in Social Sciences, which represents 35% of graduates. Economics is the highest-earning program with 143 graduates earning median earnings of $128,887 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #16 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Azimuth ranks Political Science and Government #29 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 87 graduates earning $83,188, while Computer Science ranks #20 nationally with earnings of $161,980.
