What the funding covers
- No application fee for any applicant.
- 100% of demonstrated need met for admitted students, including international students.
- Aid designed so that students can graduate without loans to repay.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition, fees, food and housing ($75,790 + $19,480 in 2026–27) | Colby grants and a campus job, up to your full demonstrated need |
| Books and personal costs ($1,700) and travel ($50–$1,300 depending on where home is) | Counted in the cost of attendance your aid is built on |
| First-year outdoor orientation trip ($500) | Billed to every new first-year student |
| Application fee | None: Colby charges no application fee |
| CSS Profile ($25 for the first college, $16 for each extra one) | You, but Colby offers a CSS fee waiver if the fee is a burden |
| US student visa: $185 application fee and $350 SEVIS fee, plus a new $250 visa integrity fee that some embassies now charge | You, before you travel |
Who can apply
- First-year applicants from any country.
- Colby is need-aware for international applicants: your aid request is considered in the admission decision.
Which nationalities can apply
Every nationality can apply.
Documents you will need
- Common Application or QuestBridge application, with every document in English
- SAT or ACT only if you want them considered; tests are optional at Colby
- An English test if English is neither your first language nor your language of instruction: TOEFL iBT (or Home Edition), IELTS Academic or Duolingo. You can self-report scores, and Colby superscores the TOEFL
- CSS Profile (plus the non-custodial parent CSS Profile if your parents are separated) by 15 November (ED I), 4 January (ED II) or 15 January (Regular Decision)
- Optional: a video interview through Duolingo, Vericant or InitialView
How to apply
- Apply through the Common Application or QuestBridge.
- Choose Early Decision I (15 November), Early Decision II (4 January) or Regular Decision (4 January).
- Submit the CSS Profile and Colby's international financial documents by the aid deadlines.
- Early Decision applicants hear about a month after the deadline.
Before you apply: things to know
- Early Decision rounds are binding; ED II lets you commit after an early rejection elsewhere.
- As a need-aware college for internationals, Colby admits a limited number of aided international students each year.
- Colby is in a small town in Maine; winters are long and cold.
Common questions
Can I apply for aid after I am admitted?
Don't wait. If you do not complete Colby's aid application before admission, you cannot receive Colby grants for two years, unless your family's finances change in a way nobody could have expected.
Do I have to send SAT or ACT scores?
No. Colby lists test scores among its optional materials.
Will my aid include loans?
No. Colby meets 100% of demonstrated need with grants and a campus job. Some families choose to borrow towards their own contribution, but that is their choice.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next deadline (Nov 15, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Aug 23, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth: confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Sep 6, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Sep 20, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Oct 4, 2026 · NOWOrder transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Oct 18, 2026 · NOWSecond draft: get feedback from someone who reads critically
Nov 1, 2026 · NOWFinalise every document and complete the online form
Nov 8, 2026 · NOWSubmit, but never on the last day
Nov 15, 2026Deadline