Which school usually gives better financial aid, UNH or Colgate?

Colgate usually has the reputation for being more generous with need-based financial aid than UNH, especially for students with significant demonstrated financial need. As a private liberal arts college with substantial institutional resources, Colgate tends to award larger institutional grants and can make the net cost much lower than the sticker price for lower- and middle-income families. UNH, as a public university, may be more affordable upfront for in-state students, but its aid often depends more on residency, merit, and the limits common at public institutions.

For a student with strong financial need, Colgate is often the place where the actual package can surprise people in a good way. Private colleges like Colgate frequently use their own funds to meet a larger share of need, and they are often trying to make attendance realistic for admitted students across income levels. That does not mean every package will beat UNH, but the overall pattern is that Colgate is more likely to be the school with deeper need-based support.

UNH can still make more sense for certain students, especially New Hampshire residents or applicants who qualify for solid merit aid. If your family would not qualify for much need-based aid, UNH’s lower published cost for in-state students could make it the less expensive option even if Colgate is more generous on paper. For students from out of state with high need, though, Colgate is often the school that tends to offer the stronger aid package.