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 — 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.
Documents you will need
- Common Application or QuestBridge application — 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 typical 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, 2026Order transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Oct 18, 2026Second draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically
Nov 1, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form
Nov 8, 2026Submit — never on the last day
Nov 15, 2026Typical deadline
Related routes
Amherst College
Due in 45 daysDetails →
Berea College
Due in 66 daysDetails →
Dartmouth College
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Duke University
Due in 38 daysDetails →
Sources
- Colby College — International applicants
- Colby College — Dates and deadlines
- Colby College — Cost and aid
- Colby College — Tuition and fees 2026–27
- Colby College — Application requirements
- College Board — What does the CSS Profile cost?
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — I-901 SEVIS fee
- Boston University ISSO — Visa integrity fee (with the $185 visa fee)
Page reviewed Sep 25, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.