Colby College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Colby was $63,790 a year.

Tuition increased 13.59% in 2023–from $56,160 the previous year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the "sticker price" of tuition doesn't always give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students pay a lot less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you're done with college.

Colby College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Colby College is around $70,197 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $23,958 in student loans for each student with debt.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Colby College

Colby College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Maine as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. 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 residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Take the time to confirm your state's rules for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Maine colleges

Is Colby College's Tuition Different for International Students?

Tuition at Colby College is the same for every student.

International students usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Colby College:

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

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Colby College Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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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 College.

House and Food Costs at Colby College

Room and board at Colby College is $17,120 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining facilities.

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

Cost of Books at Colby College

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have ways so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these costs.

Transportation costs

The total cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your transportation budget. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in a city can be expensive, but cities may offer more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Colby College campus is located in a town in Maine, not far from Portland.

Other Costs

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

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Total Tuition and Expenses at Colby College

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Colby College.

How Much Does Colby College Cost?

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

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$63,790
Room and Board	$17,120

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

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$83,720
Off-Campus	$66,600

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.

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Financial Aid at Colby College

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In 2023, 915 of the 2,299 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Colby College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $70,197 a year. Around 18% of Colby College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Colby College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $23,958 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$17,883
Private Loans	$36,450

Most Common Loans for Colby College Students
Federal Loans	18%
Private loans	3%

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 College 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 2023, Colby College awarded 915 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $57.7 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $180,000 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 College 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 College was $70,197 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Colby College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$13,523
Off-Campus	$-3,597

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 College 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 understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Colby College'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 offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition 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.

Colby College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

For more information about Colby College's endowment, check with the school directly. The school spends $20,915 for each full-time student enrolled.

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Learn More About Colby College

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Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Colby College:

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