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Colgate University in Hamilton will offer free tuition to students from families earning less than $175,000 annually, starting in the fall of 2026. This initiative, part of the Colgate Commitment, aims to increase access to higher education by making it more affordable. Families with incomes up to $200,000 will have their financial aid needs met without loans, while those earning between $175,000 and $300,000 will pay a percentage of their income toward tuition.
According to Syracuse.com, families making between $175,000 and $200,000 will contribute about 5% of their income to tuition, and those earning $200,000 to $250,000 will pay around 7%. Families with incomes between $250,000 and $300,000 will owe approximately 10% of their income. The current tuition at Colgate is over $73,000, not including additional expenses such as room and board.
President Brian W. Casey emphasized that this expansion of the Colgate Commitment will open the doors of the university to more exceptional students from diverse backgrounds. The program, initially launched in 2020, has been expanded multiple times to cover more families and reduce the reliance on loans.
Colgate.edu reports that this is the third expansion of the initiative, which is a crucial part of the university’s Third-Century Plan. The previous update in 2022 included coverage for textbooks and other academic expenses.
CNYCentral.com notes that this move targets lower- and middle-income families, ensuring that only a reasonable percentage of family income goes toward tuition, thus simplifying the financial aid process and increasing the number of students who benefit from grants instead of loans.