Colgate University to Offer Tuition-Free Education for Families Earning $175,000 or Less
HAMILTON, FNY - October 28, 2025 Colgate University has announced a sweeping expansion of its Colgate Commitment financial aid program, pledging to provide full tuition coverage for students from families earning $175,000 or less annually, beginning in fall 2026.
The initiative, which significantly broadens the university’s existing no-loan policy, will also scale aid for higher income brackets: families making up to $200,000 will pay roughly 5% of income toward tuition, while those earning up to $300,000 will see reduced contributions based on a sliding scale.
Colgate President Brian W. Casey said the move aims to make one of the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions “accessible to more exceptional students from all walks of life.” The expansion builds on Colgate’s ongoing efforts to remove financial barriers and diversify its student body.
However, financial experts note that the “tuition-free” label applies only to tuition—not housing, meals, or other expenses- and depends on a family’s typical asset profile. Still, the policy positions Colgate among a small but growing group of elite universities offering near-universal tuition support to middle-income families.
The announcement underscores a broader trend in higher education: elite private institutions responding to mounting public pressure to make degrees affordable for a wider range of American families.