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Colleges / Colby College

Colby College

Waterville, ME 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate9%
Acceptance Rate9%

Colby Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Colby College was $56,160 a year.

On average, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If this information makes going to college sound impossible, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students owe a lot less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Does Colby College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Colby College is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Maine as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to confirm your state's rules for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Maine colleges

Tuition for International Students at Colby College

Colby has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for private or Colby-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities.. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Colby:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideColby •Colby-specific scholarships •International Students Tuition Waivers


Colby College Living Expenses, Fees, and More


Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Colby.

Room and Board Costs at Colby

Meal-plan costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Colby?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have resources for students with financial need to get help covering these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Colby

The total cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. At Colby, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

The location of a college or university can impact the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in an urban area is often costly, but there may be more buses, trains or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. The Colby College campus is located in a small town setting in Maine, not far from Portland.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, don’t forget to leave some room in your budget for the cost of things like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.


The Full Cost of Attending Colby College


Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better estimate of how much students can expect to shell out for Colby.

How Much Does Colby Cost?

What will the cost of attending Colby be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $56,160
Other expenses $1,700

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $59,560
Off-Campus $57,860

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Colby College Financial Aid


In 2022, 901 of the 2,262 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Colby meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $63,725 a year. Around 24% of Colby undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Colby graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $27,248 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $15,839
Private Loans $51,092
Most Common Loans for Colby Students
Federal Loans 24%
Private loans 5%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Colby financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Colby College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Colby awarded 901 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $52.2 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $600000 thousand in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Colby College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Colby students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Colby was $63,725 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Colby seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
Off-Campus $-5,865

Note: a negative number can indicate that a refund will be given to use toward other expenses such as housing, fees, and books. In such cases, be sure to reach out to the school directly for any clarification or questions.

What will attending Colby really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Colby's net cost calculator on their website.

Colby College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Colby Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Colby has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - International Students

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About Colby College


To learn more about Colby, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Join the conversation about about Colby in the College Confidential forums

Colby Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$77,815

In State

$77,815

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$58,640
$58,640
Fees
$2,580
$2,580
Housing
$15,745
$15,745
Books
$850
$850

Colby Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

40%

Average Financial Aid Package

$59,328

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

2,262

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

9%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$61,220

Out-of-State

$61,220

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 1
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