Colby-Sawyer College scholarships for international students are partial awards on top of an already low price. The New Hampshire college cut its tuition by 62% in 2023, and for 2026-27 tuition is $19,000, with a total billed cost of $38,850 including housing, food and fees. Merit scholarships of up to $9,000 a year come automatically with admission, plus a $1,000 Early Action Award if you apply by 15 December.
Colby-Sawyer says it can give international students some aid but not full scholarships, and it asks for proof of at least $20,000 a year in family or sponsor funds before it reviews you for aid. For fall 2027, apply through the Colby-Sawyer online application or the Common App by 15 December 2026 for Early Action, or by 27 July 2027 under rolling admission.
Key facts about Colby-Sawyer College scholarships
- College: Colby-Sawyer College, a small private college in New London, New Hampshire.
- Tuition 2026-27: $19,000, after a reset that took tuition from $46,364 to $17,500 in 2023-24.
- Total billed cost 2026-27: $38,850 for a student living on campus.
- Merit scholarships: up to $9,000 a year, considered automatically with your application.
- Early Action Award: $1,000 a year, renewable, for applying by 15 December.
- International aid: some aid, never a full scholarship. Proof of at least $20,000 a year is needed before aid review.
- Financial form: Colby-Sawyer’s own International Student Financial Aid Application, sent after acceptance. No CSS Profile or ISFAA.
- Testing: SAT and ACT optional.
- Enrolment deposit: $500.
Why Colby-Sawyer’s price is lower than most US private colleges
Most private US colleges publish a high price and then discount it with scholarships. Colby-Sawyer reset its tuition instead. News coverage in December 2022 reported the college cutting tuition from $46,364 to $17,500 for the 2023-24 year, and the college now says it guarantees that four-year undergraduates start with a lower tuition price. By 2026-27 tuition had risen to $19,000, still far below most private colleges.
For international students this matters more than the scholarship amounts. A $9,000 merit award on a $19,000 tuition covers almost half the tuition. The same award at a $60,000 college would barely move the bill.
Colby-Sawyer College cost of attendance 2026-27
| Cost item | On-campus student |
|---|---|
| Tuition (12 to 18 credits) | $19,000 |
| Comprehensive fee (technology, health services, laundry, activities, programme fees) | $1,100 |
| Housing and food | $18,750 |
| Total billed by the college | $38,850 |
| Books and supplies (estimate) | $2,000 |
| Transportation (estimate) | $800 |
| Personal expenses (estimate) | $450 |
| Federal loan fees (domestic students only) | $200 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $42,300 |
Undergraduates under 24 must live on campus, so most international first-years pay the on-campus rate. Fall payment for incoming first-years is due on 15 July. International students should also budget for flights, visa fees and health insurance, which the college’s public cost table does not list separately.
What you might pay after scholarships
Here is a rough illustration using published numbers only. A student with the top $9,000 merit award and the $1,000 Early Action Award would have $38,850 minus $10,000, or $28,850, left on the bill. Any need-based aid from the international aid application would lower that further. Your real figure depends on your award letter.
Colby-Sawyer scholarships and awards
| Award | Value | Who can get it | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic scholarships and merit awards | Up to $9,000 a year | Based on leadership, engagement and academic achievement | Automatic with your application |
| Early Action Award | $1,000 a year, renewable | Students who apply by 15 December | Apply for Early Action |
| Early Acceptance | Extra $1,000 | Students who tour campus and get an on-the-spot decision | Book a campus tour; bring an unofficial transcript |
| International aid | Varies; never full | Admitted international students | International Student Financial Aid Application |
| Niblack Nursing Scholarship | Four-year full ride | First-year BSN students; 8 awards for fall 2027 | See the college’s nursing scholarship page |
| Endowed funds | Varies | Chosen by the Financial Aid Office | No application; may replace other grants |
The Early Action and Early Acceptance awards stack with other scholarships. Colby-Sawyer does not say on its public page whether the Niblack Nursing Scholarship is open to international students, so ask admissions before you count on it. The Early Acceptance route needs a campus visit, which rules it out for most applicants abroad.
Show $20,000 before aid review
Colby-Sawyer asks international students to show at least $20,000 USD in available funding before it reviews them for financial aid. Have a bank statement ready that matches the amount you put on the Certificate of Finance.
Who is eligible
You can be considered for Colby-Sawyer scholarships as an international student if you:
- Apply for first-year or transfer admission.
- Meet the academic expectations: Colby-Sawyer looks for four years of English and three years each of maths, lab science and social studies or history (or your country’s equivalent).
- Prove English ability with an official test result issued within the last two years.
- Can show at least $20,000 a year from family, savings or a sponsor.
Eligibility edge cases
- Transfer students: send official college transcripts, course descriptions and a curriculum plan as well.
- Spring entry: possible, with rolling admission up to 10 December.
- Sponsored students: a sponsor can sign the financial guarantee instead of a parent.
- Nursing applicants: check directly whether the Niblack Nursing full ride is open to international students.
Colby-Sawyer deadlines for fall 2027
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Early Action (fall 2027) | 15 December 2026 |
| Early Action Award deadline | 15 December 2026 |
| Rolling admission (fall 2027) closes | 27 July 2027 |
| Fall payment due, incoming first-years | 15 July 2027 |
| Rolling admission, spring 2027 entry | 10 December 2026 |
Colby-Sawyer lists these as month and day; the years shown are for fall 2027 entry. Apply by Early Action even though rolling admission runs into July. You get the extra $1,000 a year, and you leave time for the I-20 and visa interview.
How to apply, step by step
- Choose your application: Colby-Sawyer’s online application or the Common App.
- Upload school records: official secondary school transcripts, exam results or mark sheets, with word-for-word translations if they are not in English.
- Write one essay: the topics are in the application.
- Send an official English test result: issued within two years. Colby-Sawyer does not publish a list of tests or minimum scores, so email international@colby-sawyer.edu to confirm your test before you book it.
- Add a recommendation: optional, but it helps for merit awards.
- Submit by 15 December 2026: for Early Action and the $1,000 award.
- After acceptance, apply for aid: complete the International Student Financial Aid Application the college sends you, listing every source of funding you have.
- Receive your package: the international admissions counsellor sends the maximum aid you qualify for.
I-20 checklist
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Offer of admission | From Colby-Sawyer |
| $500 enrolment deposit | Paid to the college |
| Official transcript evaluation | From a certified evaluation organisation |
| Certificate of Finance | Sent by admissions at acceptance |
| Current financial statement | Dated no more than six months before the semester starts |
| Signed Confirmation of Financial Guarantee | From you, a parent or sponsor |
| Signed I-20 Verification Form | Provided by admissions |
| Passport bio page | Current and valid |
The transcript evaluation is the step international students most often forget. It costs money and takes weeks, so start it as soon as you are admitted.
Writing an application that earns the top merit award
Colby-Sawyer bases merit on leadership, engagement and academic achievement. Your essay and activities list should give evidence of all three.
- Lead with one role: a club you ran, a team you captained, a family business you helped manage.
- Show engagement with numbers: hours, people served, money raised.
- Connect it to your major: nursing, business, environmental studies or whatever you plan to study.
- Keep it personal: a small, specific story reads better than a list of achievements.
A sample opening (invented for illustration): “When our football club lost its pitch, I spent two months writing to the council. We got a field back, and I learned how to read a budget.”
If you add a recommendation, ask a teacher or coach who has seen you lead, and give them a few examples to mention.
What happens after you are admitted
- Read your merit award: it comes with your admission decision, since merit is automatic.
- Complete the International Student Financial Aid Application: the college sends it after acceptance. List every source of money you have, including sponsors and savings.
- Get your aid package: your international admissions counsellor sends the maximum aid you qualify for.
- Pay the $500 enrolment deposit: this holds your place and starts the I-20 process.
- Order your transcript evaluation: from a certified evaluation organisation.
- Return the finance papers: the Certificate of Finance, a current financial statement and the signed Confirmation of Financial Guarantee.
- Receive your I-20 and book a visa interview: pay the SEVIS fee first and bring your I-20, admission letter and funding proof.
- Pay the fall bill: incoming first-years pay by 15 July.
Outside scholarships must be reported to the Financial Aid Office with a copy of the award letter. They usually reduce your unmet need first, which is helpful when you have a gap to close.
Costs your scholarship will not cover
- The balance after scholarships: $28,850 a year in our top-award illustration, before any need-based aid.
- Health insurance if it is billed separately.
- The transcript evaluation fee.
- The $500 deposit, flights, visa and SEVIS fees.
- Winter clothing; New Hampshire winters are long and cold.
Common mistakes
- Expecting a full scholarship. Colby-Sawyer says it does not offer them to international students.
- Missing 15 December and losing the $1,000 a year Early Action Award.
- Sending a bank statement that does not match the Certificate of Finance balance.
- Forgetting the official transcript evaluation for the I-20.
- Sending an English test older than two years.
- Filing the CSS Profile, which Colby-Sawyer does not ask for.
How Colby-Sawyer compares with similar US options
| College or award | Funding | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Colby-Sawyer College | Merit up to $9,000 plus $1,000 Early Action Award on $19,000 tuition | This page |
| University of Houston | Merit awards and an in-state tuition waiver | University of Houston scholarships |
| Tulane University | Merit up to $32,000 a year, Global Scholarships | Tulane University scholarships |
| Dartmouth King Scholars | Full need plus extras, need-blind admission | Dartmouth King Scholars Program |
For fully funded options, see our list of the best American scholarships for international students. Once you are enrolled, our scholarships for college students guide lists outside awards to add.
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if your family or sponsor can cover roughly $29,000 a year plus travel and you want a small college with a low published price, especially in nursing or other career-focused majors. The automatic merit award makes the application quick.
Do not rely on Colby-Sawyer if you need a full scholarship or cannot show $20,000 a year. In that case, put your effort into full-need colleges and fully funded programmes.
FAQ about Colby-Sawyer College scholarships
Does Colby-Sawyer College give full scholarships to international students?
No. Colby-Sawyer says it can give international students some aid but not full scholarships. Merit awards go up to $9,000 a year, plus $1,000 a year for applying Early Action.
How much is Colby-Sawyer tuition for international students?
Tuition is $19,000 for 2026-27, and the total billed cost with housing, food and fees is $38,850. Books, travel and personal costs bring the estimate to $42,300.
What is the Colby-Sawyer deadline for international students?
15 December 2026 for Early Action (fall 2027), which also earns the Early Action Award. Rolling admission for fall 2027 runs until 27 July 2027.
How much money do I need to show for Colby-Sawyer?
At least $20,000 USD a year in available funding before the college reviews you for aid. The bank statement must match the balance on your Certificate of Finance.
Sources and updates
Checked on 25 October 2026 against Colby-Sawyer College’s official pages: International Applications (deadlines, documents, $20,000 funding rule, aid process, I-20 items, $500 deposit), Scholarships and Awards (merit, Early Action and Early Acceptance awards, Niblack Nursing), First Year Applications (testing and coursework), the Financial Services tuition page and the 2026-27 undergraduate catalogue (costs), and the Transparent Tuition page. The 2023 tuition cut figures come from Boston.com’s December 2022 report. Colby-Sawyer does not publish English test minimums; email international@colby-sawyer.edu to confirm yours.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
