Colby College Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on November 1, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~8%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 32-34
  • Middle 50% SAT: 1450-1540
  • Average GPA: N/A
🧭 How Colby Works (Read This Before You Apply)

  • There is no merit money at Colby. None. Colby doesn’t give academic, athletic or talent scholarships. Every dollar of Colby grant is based on what your family can afford, so the CSS Profile matters more than the transcript when it comes to price.
  • The need-based deal is unusually generous. Colby meets 100% of demonstrated need with no loans. Families earning $75,000 or less with typical assets pay $0 as parents, and the Fair Shot Fund caps the parent share at $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 for families up to $200,000.
  • It’s very hard to get into. About 8% of the 21,065 students who applied for the Class of 2030 were admitted. Admitted students who sent scores had median scores of 1510 on the SAT and 34 on the ACT.
  • Test-optional, free to apply, no extra essays. There’s no application fee and no Colby-specific writing supplement. If your student does send scores, Colby superscores everything, even single-section retests.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Colby College at a Glance

Average Net Price
$17,180/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
None (need-based aid only)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
13 opportunities
3 competitive · 7 hidden gem · 3 honors
Typical Qualifiers
Need-based: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional admission
Automatic merit ignores test scores
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 15 • FAFSA: Jan 15
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Colby (Read This First)

  • Apply for aid before you’re admitted, or you’re locked out for two years. Students who don’t file for aid with their application aren’t considered for Colby grant money until junior year, unless the family’s finances change unexpectedly. If there’s any chance you’ll need help, file.
  • The aid deadlines come before most families expect. CSS Profile, FAFSA and tax documents are due Nov 15 for Early Decision I and Jan 15 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision.
  • Colby is need-aware. That means your ability to pay can play a part in the admission decision. It’s still worth applying for aid if you need it, because skipping it costs you Colby grants until junior year.
  • Divorced or separated parents both count. Colby asks for a Noncustodial CSS Profile (or a waiver form) and may expect a contribution from the other parent too.
  • Aid is redone every year. Returning students reapply by April 30, and the package can go up or down with the family’s finances. Colby also says the price will likely rise 1 to 2% above inflation each year.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Colby College is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).

Do you need test scores for scholarships at Colby College? Colby has no merit aid, so test scores never change the money. Test-optional for admission, and Colby superscores everything, including single-section retests.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 32-34; SAT: 1450-1540.

Average net price? About $17,180/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.

Sources:
Colby College: Applying for Aid: https://afa.colby.edu/apply/applying-for-aid/
Colby College: The Colby Commitment: https://afa.colby.edu/cost-and-aid/colby-commitment/
Colby College: Presidential Scholars: https://afa.colby.edu/academics/scholar-programs/presidential-scholars/
Colby Funding: Ralph J. Bunche Scholars Opportunity Grants: https://colby.academicworks.com/opportunities/8339
Colby College: QuestBridge Applicants: https://afa.colby.edu/apply/requirements/questbridge-applicants/
Davis UWC Scholars: Collegiate Partners: https://www.davisuwcscholars.org/node/36
DavisConnects: Student Funding: https://davisconnects.colby.edu/?p=191
Colby College: Scholar Programs: https://afa.colby.edu/academics/scholar-programs/
Colby College: Applying to Colby FAQ: https://afa.colby.edu/apply/faq/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at Colby College: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in November 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Colby College has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,900 to $4,800 more than the total below.

✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.

All students: billed cost per year
$95,270
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $75,790
Housing & meals (typical) $19,480
Total billed cost $95,270

Average federal net price: $17,180 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

One Price for Every State, Then Aid Changes Everything

Colby is private, so a family in Maine and a family in Texas see the same bill. There’s no out-of-state premium and no reciprocity program to chase. What actually sets your price is the Colby Commitment: 100% of need met without loans, a $0 parent share at $75,000 or less, and capped parent shares up to $200,000 in family income.

What’s Actually on the 2026-27 Bill
  • Tuition: $72,590
  • General fee: $3,200
  • Housing: $10,090
  • Meals: $9,390

That’s $95,270 billed for a standard on-campus student. Colby adds $1,700 for books and personal costs and $50 to $1,300 for travel to get its full cost of attendance of $97,020 to $98,270. First-years also pay a one-time $500 fee for COOT, the outdoor orientation trip, and every student is billed $2,628 for health insurance unless they waive it with their own coverage.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Colby College

Does Colby really cost almost $100,000 a year?
The sticker price does. For 2026-27, Colby’s full cost of attendance is $97,020 to $98,270 once books, personal costs and travel are added. Very few aided families pay that. The federal average after grants is about $17,000 a year.

How much will my family pay at Colby?
It depends on income and assets, not grades. With typical assets, the parent share is $0 at $75,000 or less, no more than $10,000 at $75,001 to $100,000, no more than $15,000 at $100,001 to $150,000, and no more than $20,000 at $150,001 to $200,000. The student also chips in through summer and campus work. Colby’s MyinTuition calculator gives a quick estimate in about 90 seconds.

Can Colby really be cheaper than our in-state public university?
For a lot of middle-income families, yes. Colby says the Fair Shot Fund caps often make it cheaper than the student’s in-state public school. Run both net price calculators side by side before you rule Colby out on price.

Do out-of-state students pay more at Colby?
No. Colby is private, so tuition is the same no matter where you live. There’s no reciprocity program because there’s no out-of-state premium to waive.

Will our aid keep up if Colby raises tuition?
Colby expects its price to rise about 1 to 2% above inflation each year, and it says it will still meet 100% of demonstrated need without loans. The catch is that aid is recalculated every year from a new application, so it follows your family’s finances, not a frozen number.

Is the health insurance charge required?
Every student has to have coverage. Colby bills $2,628 for its plan unless you waive it with comparable U.S. coverage by Aug 1. For families under $75,000 without other coverage, Colby says financial help may be available to cover the plan.

Does Colby aid go with my student to study abroad?
Yes. Colby’s financial aid is portable to approved semester and year-long study away programs, so a semester abroad doesn’t mean losing the package.

Can Maine families use the Maine State Grant at Colby?
Yes. The Maine State Grant works at private Maine colleges, including Colby, and pays up to $2,500 a year for eligible families. The FAFSA is the only application, and FAME needs it by May 1 each year.

Sources:
https://www.colby.edu/people/offices-directory/student-financial-services/scholarships-and-financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/
https://www.colby.edu/people/offices-directory/student-financial-services/student-account-information/student-charges-payment-schedule/
https://afa.colby.edu/cost-and-aid/colby-commitment/
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/applying-for-aid/
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/faq/
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

📅 Colby Aid Timeline (Simple Version)

  • Nov 15: CSS Profile, FAFSA and tax documents due for Early Decision I.
  • Jan 15: Same documents due for Early Decision II and Regular Decision.
  • With the admission decision: Your estimated aid offer arrives, along with any Presidential, Bunche or Pulver Scholar selection.
  • April 30 every year after: Returning students reapply for aid.

Parent rule of thumb: at Colby the aid paperwork is the scholarship application. Miss it before admission and Colby grants are off the table until junior year.

Automatic Merit Scholarships: Colby College

Here’s the honest answer: Colby has no automatic merit scholarships. It says plainly that scholarships for academics, athletics or other talents aren’t available. A 4.0 and a 36 won’t lower the price by themselves. What Colby does instead is automatic in a different way: if your family’s income is $75,000 or less with typical assets, the parent share is $0, and above that the Fair Shot Fund caps it. You’ll find those in the Hidden Gems section below.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.

This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.

Note: If Colby ever adds automatic awards, they’ll show up here. For Maine families, state money like the Maine State Grant appears in this spot when it applies. The closest thing Colby has to an academic award is the $2,000-a-year National Merit recognition award, covered in the next section.

Automatic Merit: FAQs (Colby College)

Does Colby give merit scholarships?
No. Every Colby grant is based on financial need. The only award tied to achievement is a $2,000-a-year recognition award for National Merit Finalists who name Colby as their first choice.

Should we even apply for aid if we think we earn too much?
If there’s any doubt, yes. The Fair Shot Fund caps the parent share for families earning up to $200,000, and families above that can still show need, especially with more than one child in college. Skipping aid at the start means no Colby grant until junior year.

Do test scores change the price at Colby?
No. Since there’s no merit aid, scores never touch the money. Colby is test-optional for admission and superscores everything if your student chooses to send scores.

Does Colby offer athletic scholarships?
No. Colby competes in NCAA Division III, which doesn’t allow athletic scholarships. Athletes get need-based aid on the same terms as everyone else.

What forms does Colby need for aid?
The CSS Profile (code 3280), the FAFSA (code 002039) for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and parent and student tax returns sent through the College Board’s IDOC service. Divorced, separated or never-married parents also need the Noncustodial CSS Profile or a waiver form.

Is there any money for Maine residents?
Maine students can use the Maine State Grant at Colby, up to $2,500 a year, by filing the FAFSA by May 1. Future teachers can also look at the Educators for Maine program, which is a forgivable loan, and Colby offers a state-approved teacher certification program.

Sources:
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/faq/
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/applying-for-aid/
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/dates-and-deadlines/
https://www.famemaine.com/affording-education/pay-for-school/maine-grant-tuition-programs/maine-state-grant-program/

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Colby doesn’t run a full-ride competition. There’s no essay contest that knocks $50,000 off the bill. The “big money” at Colby is the need-based package itself. What’s listed here are three specific paths: the National Merit recognition award, the QuestBridge National College Match for low-income students, and the Davis United World College Scholars program for UWC graduates.

✅ How Different Kinds of Money Fit Together at Colby

Aid Type Stacks? Colby Parent Translation
Colby need-based grant Base layer This is the whole game. It fills the gap between the bill and what your family can pay.
QuestBridge Match Replaces It becomes the aid package. Not matching still gets your student a full need-based offer with no loans.
National Merit ($2,000/yr) Paid either way Colby pays it with or without need-based aid. Ask how it shows up on your offer.
Scholar program grants Yes Presidential and Bunche grants pay for projects, not tuition, so they don’t touch your aid.
Outside scholarships Mostly helps you They lower the student’s share and work-study first, then the family’s share. Watch out for one-year awards.
Maine State Grant Part of the package State money that counts toward meeting need for Maine residents.

The big idea: because Colby already promises to meet all of your need, most extra money doesn’t stack on top. It replaces some part of what you’d otherwise pay or work for. That’s still a win, just a different kind than at a merit school.

App Requirednational merit
National Merit Recognition Award
📅 Deadline: Name Colby as first choice with NMSC by the NMSC deadline in the spring of senior year.
✓ Renews
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠  National Merit Finalists who list Colby first.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Colby pays it whether or not the student receives need-based aid. Colby does not spell out whether it lowers the need-based grant for aided students, so ask Student Financial Services how it shows up on the aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Take the PSAT/NMSQT in junior year, advance to National Merit Finalist, and report Colby as your first-choice school to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
💡
Strategic Detail
Colby calls this an annual recognition award of $2,000. Finalists who forget to name Colby first can miss it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: National Merit Finalists who list Colby as their first choice with NMSC. It is the only award at Colby tied to academic achievement rather than family finances, and it is a recognition award, not a tuition discount.
App Requiredlow income
QuestBridge National College Match (Colby)
📅 Deadline: QuestBridge National College Match application closes in late September of senior year. Check questbridge.org for the exact date.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠  Low-income students who apply through QuestBridge.
QuestBridge sets the income and academic guidelines. Colby has partnered with QuestBridge since 2015.
✚
Stacking & Combining
The Match replaces the regular aid offer rather than adding to it. It is still built on Colby's need-based formula with no loans.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to the QuestBridge National College Match in the fall of senior year, become a Finalist, and rank Colby. Finalists who do not match can forward the QuestBridge application to Colby for Regular Decision, or add Colby's Early Decision Agreement for ED I or ED II.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
QuestBridge describes a Match as a full four-year scholarship. At Colby, families with total income of $75,000 or less and typical assets already have a $0 parent contribution.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving students from low-income families who apply through QuestBridge and are matched with Colby. Students who are not matched are still admitted on the regular track and still get 100 percent of need met without loans, so ranking Colby has little downside.
Automaticuwc graduate
Davis United World College Scholars
📅 Deadline: No separate application. Apply to Colby and file the financial aid forms by the round deadline.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠  United World College graduates only.
Must be a graduate of a United World College. Aid is based on demonstrated need.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Part of the need-based package rather than an extra on top of it.
💡
Strategic Detail
Partner list checked is the 2023-24 version, which names Colby.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Graduates of one of the 18 United World College high schools who are admitted to Colby. Colby was one of the five original pilot schools for the Davis program in 2000, so UWC students are a long-standing part of every class.
Data last verified Nov 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Does Colby give money to National Merit Finalists?
Yes. National Merit Scholars get an annual $2,000 recognition award whether or not they get financial aid. Your student has to report Colby as their first-choice school to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to get it.

Is Colby a QuestBridge partner?
Yes, since 2015. Finalists who rank Colby can be matched for a four-year scholarship. Finalists who don’t match can forward their QuestBridge application to Colby for Regular Decision, or add Colby’s Early Decision Agreement for ED I or ED II.

Is there a downside to ranking Colby in QuestBridge?
Not much. Colby says that if a student doesn’t match, it still meets 100% of their demonstrated need without loans once admitted. Keep in mind the Match itself is binding.

What is the Davis UWC Scholars program?
It’s need-based aid for graduates of the 18 United World College high schools. Colby was one of the five original pilot schools when the program started in 2000. There’s no separate application; UWC graduates just apply to Colby and file for aid.

Is there a big competitive scholarship like a full ride?
No. Colby puts its money into need-based aid instead of merit contests. For a family under $75,000 with typical assets, the regular package already means a $0 parent share.

Sources:
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/applying-for-aid/
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/requirements/questbridge-applicants/
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/faq/
https://www.davisuwcscholars.org/node/36

🧠 Parent Strategy: Treat the Aid Forms Like the Scholarship Application

At Colby the money doesn’t come from contests. It comes from getting the paperwork right and on time. Before your student hits submit:

  1. Run Colby’s MyinTuition calculator. Six questions, about 90 seconds, and you’ll know if the number is realistic.
  2. File the CSS Profile and FAFSA by Nov 15 (ED I) or Jan 15 (ED II and Regular Decision).
  3. Send tax returns through IDOC and, if parents are divorced or separated, the Noncustodial Profile or waiver.
  4. Keep applying for outside scholarships. At Colby they cut the student’s share and work-study first.

Parent translation: miss the forms before admission and you’ve given up Colby grants for two years. That’s the most expensive mistake a family can make here.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These aren’t splashy, but they’re where Colby’s real value lives: income-based caps on what parents pay, funded internships and research, a summer science head start, and a few smaller perks most families never hear about.

Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlylow income
Colby Commitment: $0 Parent Contribution
📅 Deadline: Nov 15
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Family income $75,000 or less with typical assets.
🎓 All UndergradApplies to admitted students who applied for aid before admission. Aid is reviewed every year.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Colby's grant fills the need gap after federal and state grants. Outside scholarships reduce the student's share and work-study first, and only then the family contribution.
💡
Strategic Detail
Colby meets 100 percent of demonstrated need with grants and work, no loans. Students who do not apply for aid before admission are not considered for Colby grants until junior year unless the family's finances change unexpectedly.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families with total income of $75,000 or less and assets typical for that income. The parent share is $0; the student still covers a modest student contribution and summer or campus work. Families with unusual assets, such as a lot of home equity or a business, get a closer look.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyfinancial need
Fair Shot Fund (Parent Contribution Caps)
📅 Deadline: Nov 15
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Family income up to $200,000 with typical assets.
🎓 All UndergradTotal household income up to $200,000 with typical assets. Families above $200,000 can still qualify for need-based aid without a cap.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Works inside the normal need-based package. The cap limits the parent share; Colby grant covers the rest of the bill after the student's own share and work.
💡
Strategic Detail
Expanded for the Class of 2029 with an anonymous gift. The caps cover the parent or guardian contribution only.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Middle-income families who would normally assume an elite private college is out of reach. With typical assets, the parent share is capped at $10,000 for income $75,001 to $100,000, $15,000 for $100,001 to $150,000, and $20,000 for $150,001 to $200,000. Colby says that often makes it cheaper than the family's in-state public university.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
DavisConnects Experience Funding
📅 Deadline: Four funding cycles a year. Summer 2027 window: Mar 10 to Mar 23, 2027. Spring 2027: Jan 13 to Jan 22, 2027.
✓ Renews
$2,500–$8,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradCurrent Colby students. Students not on aid may apply with a need statement but get lower priority.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate from the tuition aid package. Paid internship earnings count against the grant, and Colby funding plus net pay cannot exceed $8,000 for one experience.
📄
How to Apply
Meet with a DavisConnects advisor, then complete the General Application Parts I and II during a funding window with essays, a staff or faculty reference, and a budget sheet tied to one specific opportunity.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Colby advertises guaranteed access to research, internship and global experiences, but individual grants are competitive and limited. Most students can be funded up to about three times. Semester study abroad is covered by regular financial aid, which is portable, not by these grants.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Juniors and seniors on financial aid who have not been funded before and submit a strong, specific application get top priority. Typical grants run $2,500 to $3,500. Students on aid can also ask for up to $2,000 in lost wages for an unpaid semester or summer experience (up to $500 for Jan Plan).
Automaticfirst generationlow income
Colby Achievement Program in the Sciences (CAPS)
📅 Deadline: Colby does not publish a date. Ask the admissions office after admission.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Incoming first-gen or low-income science students.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A funded program, separate from the aid package.
💡
Strategic Detail
Colby does not publish a dollar value or the selection process.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-years who are first-generation college students or from low-income backgrounds and want to try science research. They spend a Colby-funded summer doing hands-on work in biology, chemistry, environmental science and other natural sciences before their first semester starts.
App Requiredarts
Lyons Arts Lab First-Year Fellows
📅 Deadline: Colby does not publish a separate date. Submit the arts supplement with the admission application.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Portfolio review and interview.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Not a tuition award, so it does not affect need-based aid.
📄
How to Apply
Submit an arts portfolio and interview. Colby's optional arts supplement can be added to the admission application.
🎤 Interview
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Creative first-years chosen through portfolio review and an interview. Fellows take a set of courses and experiences together in their first year and can still major in anything. Colby does not attach a published dollar amount; the value is the cohort and access to Lyons Arts Lab funding and projects.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlylow income
Student Health Insurance Assistance
📅 Deadline: The insurance enrollment or waiver form is due Aug 1 each year.
✓ Renews
$2,628/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠  Family income under $75,000 without other coverage.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Added to the aid package because the premium is not part of the standard cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Colby uses the word may, so confirm with Student Financial Services.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students without comparable insurance whose family income is under $75,000. Colby says financial help may be available to cover the billed plan, which is $2,628 for a full year in 2026-27. Families with their own U.S. coverage can waive the plan instead.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlymajor
Free Music Lessons for Music Majors
📅 Deadline: Applies once the student declares a music major.
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Declared music majors.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A fee waiver, separate from the aid package.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who major in music get private lessons free. Presidential Scholars also get first-year lessons covered before they pick a major. Colby does not publish the lesson fee it waives.
Data last verified Nov 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlymilitary
Yellow Ribbon Program
📅 Deadline: Work with the VA and Colby's certifying official once admitted.
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Veterans and eligible dependents.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Colby and the VA split tuition and fees above the Post-9/11 GI Bill private-school cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
First-year students using VA benefits should check their Colby Memorandum of Understanding about declaring a major.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Veterans and eligible dependents at the 100 percent Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit level. Colby does not publish its per-student contribution or the number of slots.
Data last verified Nov 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

What is the Colby Commitment?
It’s Colby’s promise to meet 100% of demonstrated need with grants and campus work, no loans. Families with total income of $75,000 or less and typical assets have a $0 parent contribution.

What is the Fair Shot Fund?
It caps what parents pay for families earning up to $200,000 with typical assets: no more than $10,000 at $75,001 to $100,000, $15,000 at $100,001 to $150,000, and $20,000 at $150,001 to $200,000. There’s no separate application. It’s built into the regular aid process.

What does “typical assets” mean?
Colby doesn’t publish a number. Families with unusual assets for their income, like a lot of home equity, a business or large savings, can end up with a higher contribution than the caps suggest. Run the calculator with your real numbers.

Is DavisConnects funding really guaranteed?
Colby guarantees access to internships, research and global experiences, but the grants themselves are competitive. Typical awards run $2,500 to $3,500, the maximum is $8,000 per experience, and students on aid can ask for up to $2,000 in lost wages for an unpaid summer or semester experience. Juniors and seniors on aid who haven’t been funded before get first priority.

What is CAPS?
The Colby Achievement Program in the Sciences gives incoming first-generation or low-income students a Colby-funded summer of hands-on science research before their first semester.

Will outside scholarships reduce my Colby aid?
They reduce the student’s expected contribution and work-study first. Only after that do they lower the family’s share. One warning from Colby: many outside awards are one-year only, so the family bill can go up sophomore year when they run out.

Sources:
https://afa.colby.edu/cost-and-aid/colby-commitment/
https://afa.colby.edu/cost-and-aid/calculate-your-costs/
https://davisconnects.colby.edu/
https://afa.colby.edu/academics/scholar-programs/
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/faq/

No Honors College at Colby. Here Are the Scholar Programs Instead.

Colby doesn’t have an honors college. What it has are three scholar programs that pick out top students from the regular application. The good news: there’s nothing extra to apply for. Every first-year applicant is considered for all three, and students find out with their admission decision.

  • Presidential Scholars: the top students in each incoming class. Up to a $3,000 grant to design their own project, plus free music lessons in the first year.
  • Bunche Scholars: students from all backgrounds with strong academics and community leadership. A $3,000 grant for independent work, internships or humanitarian projects.
  • Pulver Science Scholars: ambitious science students. Funding for at least one research experience and one internship before graduation.

Scholar Program Awards

Automatic
Presidential Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: No application. Selection comes with the admission decision.
Non-Renewable
$3,000
✔ Stackable
⚠  Chosen from all applicants; no separate application.
Must stay in good academic and personal standing to keep the designation.
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is project money, not tuition money, so it sits on top of the need-based aid package and does not change it.
💡
Strategic Detail
Opportunity Grants of up to $3,000. Presidential Music Scholarships cover music lessons in the first year. Scholars also get cohort access to Colby's centers, institutes and labs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Colby picks a group of the very top students in each incoming class from the regular application. There is no published GPA or score cutoff. The grant pays for things like an internship, research, a conference, or a certification course, up to $3,000 total.
Automatic
Ralph J. Bunche Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: No application. Selection comes with the admission decision.
Non-Renewable
$3,000
✔ Stackable
⚠  Chosen from all applicants; no separate application.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Project money on top of the need-based package. It does not reduce aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Named for Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph J. Bunche. The grant can pay for independent scholarship, internships, humanitarian projects, conferences and some certification programs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from all backgrounds whose applications show strong academics plus real community leadership, often with a focus on social justice or civic engagement. Older third-party listings describe a $9,000 race-restricted award; Colby's current funding portal shows a $3,000 grant open to students from all backgrounds.
Automatic
Pulver Science Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: No application. Selection comes with the admission decision.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Chosen from all applicants; no separate application.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Experience funding, separate from the need-based package.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Ambitious science students from all backgrounds picked from the regular application. Every Pulver Scholar gets funding for at least one research experience and one internship in the sciences before graduation. Colby does not publish a dollar figure.
Data last verified Nov 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

Grant amounts reflect Colby’s current program pages. Colby may change the programs or amounts from year to year.

Important: These grants pay for experiences, not tuition. A Presidential or Bunche Scholar’s $3,000 doesn’t lower the bill. It pays for things like an internship, a research project, a conference or a certification course. Students request it through the DavisConnects funding application when they have a specific plan.
Other Selective First-Year Programs
  • Lyons Arts Lab First-Year Fellows: chosen by portfolio review and interview. A cohort of creative students who take courses and experiences together in year one.
  • CAPS: a Colby-funded summer of science research before the first semester for first-generation and low-income students.
  • Global Entry Semesters: a small group of first-years start college in Salamanca, Spain, or Dijon, France, after orientation on campus.

Scholar Programs: FAQs (Colby College)

Does Colby have an honors college?
No. The Presidential, Bunche and Pulver Scholar programs are the closest thing, and none of them requires a separate application.

How does my student apply to be a Presidential Scholar?
They don’t. Every first-year applicant is considered automatically, and students are notified with their admission decision.

How much money comes with the Presidential and Bunche Scholar programs?
Up to $3,000 in grant money for each scholar, used for projects like internships, research, conferences or certification courses. It’s not a tuition scholarship.

Is the Bunche Scholars program only for certain groups?
No. Colby’s current description says it’s open to students from all backgrounds. Some older scholarship websites still list different rules and a $9,000 amount. Go by Colby’s own pages.

What does a Pulver Science Scholar actually get?
Guaranteed funding for at least one research experience and one internship focused on science before graduation. Colby doesn’t publish a dollar figure.

Sources:
https://afa.colby.edu/academics/scholar-programs/
https://afa.colby.edu/academics/scholar-programs/presidential-scholars/
https://colby.academicworks.com/opportunities/8339
https://afa.colby.edu/apply/faq/
https://davisconnects.colby.edu/

⭐ College Specialty

Colby is a small liberal arts college of about 2,400 undergraduates on a hill above Waterville, Maine. There are no graduate students, so professors teach undergrads and research happens with them. What sets Colby apart from other small New England colleges is how much money it has poured into labs, institutes and the arts over the last decade, and how much of that is open to students from their first year.

Nationally Known Program:
Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence: opened in 2021 as the first cross-disciplinary AI institute at a liberal arts college. Students work on AI in everything from biology to English, not just computer science. Colby has since added majors in data science and computational biology.
  • Economics and government: two of Colby’s largest majors, with the new Bram Public Policy Lab connecting students to lawmakers in Maine and beyond.
  • Biology and neuroscience: big pre-med pipelines, with the Linde Packman Lab for Biosciences Innovation funding student research. A new science complex is scheduled to open in 2030.
  • Environmental studies: one of Colby’s best-known departments, backed by the Buck Lab for Climate and Environment, which gives grants for internships and research.
  • Art: the Colby College Museum of Art holds more than 10,000 works, and the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts opened in 2023.
  • New programs: public health, marine science and data science are among Colby’s newest majors, and Colby says engineering interest is growing as its science plans take shape.
  • Jan Plan: a January term for one intensive course, an internship or travel. Colby also offers a Dartmouth dual-degree engineering option and research at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.

The outcomes back it up: 92% of the Class of 2025 had at least one internship, research or global experience before graduating, and 97% landed a job, grad school or other next step within six months.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Colby flips the usual scholarship playbook. At most schools, a high-stat kid hunts for merit money. At Colby there isn’t any, and that’s not bad news for most families. Colby puts its money into need: no loans, a $0 parent share at $75,000 or less, and caps of $10,000 to $20,000 for families up to $200,000. For a lot of middle-income families, that makes one of the most selective colleges in the country cost less than the state flagship.

The flip side is that getting in is the hard part, and the paperwork is the scholarship application. Run the MyinTuition calculator now, file the CSS Profile and FAFSA by Nov 15 or Jan 15, and don’t skip aid “just to see.” If your student gets in, the extras are real: Presidential and Bunche grants, Pulver research funding, and DavisConnects money that can pay for an internship that would otherwise be out of reach.

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Leo Dimilo
Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me. More about Leo →
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