Copyright Staten Island Advance
A liberal arts university in Upstate New York will allow students whose family make less than $175,000 a year to attend for free starting next year. Colgate University, located in Hamilton, will offer a tuition-free and sliding scale education for families making up to $300,000. For a gross income higher than $300,000, the student has to pay full tuition. This will begin in the 2026-2027 school year. Families making between $175,000 and $200,000 will pay about 5% of their income to tuition and are not eligible for loans. Families earning $200,000 to $250,000 will pay about 7% of their income toward tuition. Families making $250,000 to $300,000 will owe about 10% of their income for tuition. Tuition is $73,206 for the 2025-2026 school year, but it can cost up to $20,000 more when fees and room and board are added. Students may still be responsible for room and board payments. “Expanding the Colgate Commitment opens the doors of this world-class University to more exceptional students from all walks of life,” said President Brian W. Casey. Colgate University began offering this program in 2021 with free tuition capped at households making $80,000 and the sliding scale going up to $150,000. The median household income in Madison County, where Colgate is located, was around $73,000 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
