How to Apply to Biology at Colgate University: A Liberal Arts University with Majors in Biology, Molecular Biology and Environmental Biology, Undergraduate Research, and Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Colgate University is in Hamilton, and its website describes combining a rigorous liberal arts education with research university resources. Biology is taught by the Department of Biology, which lists four majors: Biology, Molecular Biology, Environmental Biology and Natural Sciences with a concentration in Marine Science - Freshwater Science, and two minors, Biology and Mathematical Systems Biology. The Biochemistry major sits in the Chemistry department and Neuroscience is a separate program, mentioned only briefly here; chemistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other fields are not covered. Below is what Colgate’s website says, for domestic students, international students (with a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. The university catalog (catalog.colgate.edu) is hosted by a third-party vendor and was not read; the department and major pages on colgate.edu carry the 2026-27 catalog content, and this article relies on those.

1. The degrees and programs

• Biology major: required BIOL 181 (Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity) and BIOL 182 (Molecules, Cells, and Genes) with their labs, both completed with C- or better; general chemistry CHEM 101/102 with labs (the one-term CHEM 111 may substitute if eligible); one “Process of Biology” course with lab from Evolution, Genetics, Ecology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology or Organismal Biology (BIOL 201 to 206); five electives, one at any level and four numbered 300 or higher, at least two of those four with a laboratory component (research courses numbered 470 or higher and independent studies do not count as electives); and a one-credit research experience, normally a research tutorial numbered BIOL 470 to 490.
• Molecular Biology major: for students interested in biology at the molecular level who wish to take several courses in both biology and chemistry. Required BIOL 181/182; one course from BIOL 201, 202, 204 or 205; three electives from the molecular biology list; a one-credit research experience; chemistry including general chemistry, Organic Chemistry I and II and Proteins and Nucleic Acids (CHEM 353); one mathematics or computer science course (BIOL 302 or BIOL 320 can satisfy the math requirement); and a physics sequence (PHYS 111/112 or PHYS 232/233).
• Environmental Biology major: the department says it is affiliated with the Environmental Studies Program (ENST) and designed for students interested in biology and the environment. Its required courses are not on the pages read; see the website.
• Natural sciences topical major (Marine - Freshwater Science): the department says it is offered with the Department of Earth & Environmental Geosciences, for students who wish to take courses in both biology and geology. Its requirements are not on the pages read; see the website.
• Minors: Biology, and Mathematical Systems Biology (affiliated with the Department of Mathematics, for students interested in applying mathematics to living systems).
• Related programs: the Biochemistry major is in the chemistry department; Neuroscience is a separate program; some biology courses count toward the biochemistry, geology and neuroscience majors. Biology majors interested in school teaching should see Educational Studies.
• Accreditation: the pages read do not mention professional accreditation of the biology majors; not published.
• Outcomes: the department says a biology major is the traditional preparation for careers in the biological or health-related sciences; most majors ultimately pursue careers in the life sciences, and others work in business, theology, law and the performing arts. No summary percentages are given.

2. How admission works: apply to the university, then choose a major

• Which unit: the application pages are for the university as a whole; they do not describe admission by major.
• Whether you pick a major and when: the pages read do not say whether applicants must name biology, or when students declare a major after enrolling, or any grade threshold or cap. This is not published on the pages read; ask admissions or the department chair.
• Advice on requirements: the biology major page says questions about requirements can be directed to the department chair.
• Internal transfer: conditions for moving into biology are not on the pages read; not published.

3. Preparation

• High school courses: the pages read do not list required high school courses for Colgate, nor the biology department’s requirements for high school biology, chemistry or math; not published, so ask admissions and the department.
• Department advice: the department reminds students expecting to attend graduate or professional schools that those schools frequently recommend or require calculus, statistics, computer science, chemistry (typically through organic) and a year of physics as cognates to the biology major.
• AP/IB credit for biology and related courses (Registrar’s “Transfer and Pre-matriculation Credit” page and the biology department page; check the latest): AP Biology 4 or 5 earns BIOL 101 (1 course credit), counted as a 100-level elective, and the department encourages students with AP credit to enter with BIOL 181 or 182; IB Biology HL 6 or 7 earns BIOL 101. AP Chemistry 4 or 5 earns CHEM 100 (1 course credit) for students entering fall 2024 and later; IB Chemistry earns no credit, but HL 6 or 7 can be used for placement into CHEM 111. AP Calculus AB 5 or BC 5 earns MATH 161 (1 course credit) (students who entered in fall 2026 or earlier have different rules, given on the page); AP Statistics 4 or 5 earns MATH 105. For other international exams such as A-Levels, credit is requested from the department chair, and such credit cannot satisfy the university’s areas of inquiry requirement but may count toward the major. The site also says AP, IB and similar credit cannot satisfy the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, and that traditional students may receive transfer credit, including AP and IB, for a maximum of six Colgate credits in total.
• First-year courses and labs: the required BIOL 181 and 182 and the chemistry courses all carry labs; the biochemistry major page recommends general chemistry and the needed math in the first year. The specific first-year plan for the biology major is not on the pages read.
• Undergraduate research: the research page says research tutorials are part of the regular curriculum, enrolling six to eight juniors and seniors and ending with a departmental poster session; targeted students may do independent studies for one credit per semester; paid on-campus research positions earn no credit and in some cases can begin in the first year; each summer a number of students stay on campus for funded research. The one-credit research experience required for the Biology and Molecular Biology majors may be satisfied through the Bethesda Biomedical Research study group, UROPS courses at the National University of Singapore and other approved options.
• Honors: honors or high honors in biology need approval of the research adviser, an overall GPA of 3.30 in Colgate courses counted toward the major, demonstrated commitment to research, an oral presentation to the department, and a review paper and a research paper submitted to the adviser and one more reader; the project must rest on at least one (honors) or two (high honors) semesters or summers of research, carried out on campus, in the Bethesda study group or in the Singapore exchange.
• Off-campus study: the department page lists the Australia study group at the University of Wollongong (fall for environmental biology juniors, spring for science juniors), the Bethesda Biomedical Research study group (fall, at the National Institutes of Health or the Uniformed Services University), the exchange with the National University of Singapore (fall, for sophomore and junior natural science majors) and the Ireland study group at the University of Galway (spring, for junior science majors).
• Competitions: how biology competitions are viewed in admissions is not on the pages read; not published.

4. Plans and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision I: due November 1 (financial aid materials the same day), notification mid-December. Early Decision II: due January 15, notification mid-February. Both are binding: admitted students must withdraw other applications and attend. Regular Decision: due January 15, notification late March. The pages print no year; confirm fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply: the Common Application, Coalition Application on Scoir or QuestBridge Application, all of which include a personal statement.
• Application fee: USD 60; waived for non-U.S. citizens (not U.S. dual citizens or permanent residents), U.S. military veterans and others.
• Recommendations and transcripts: two recommendations from core academic teachers who taught you in grade 10, 11 or 12 (submitted by a school official), one guidance counselor recommendation, an official high school transcript (non-English transcripts need the official original plus an official English translation), and mid-year grades (first-semester grades of the final year, by February 15; not required for ED I applicants if unavailable). The pages do not say the teachers must be science teachers. Early Decision applicants also submit an Early Decision Agreement signed by the student, a parent or guardian and a counselor.
• Testing: SAT/ACT is optional; students who do not submit are at no disadvantage, and Colgate evaluates academic achievement through the rest of the application. Both SAT and ACT are superscored and self-reported scores are accepted; admitted applicants who chose to have scores considered send official scores. School codes: SAT 2086, ACT 2702.
• Optional materials: a Glimpse video (domestic students) or InitialView video (international students); a VIVA research submission for students with formal research projects (by November 1 for ED I, January 15 otherwise); other work samples. The site says none is required and not submitting is no disadvantage.
• High school course requirements: the first-year applicant page read does not list required high school courses; not published on the pages read, so ask admissions.

5. Domestic students

• Tuition: The cost page does not split in-state and out-of-state. For 2026-27, first-years and sophomores living on campus: tuition USD 76,828, housing 9,348, food 10,008 (first-years, sophomores and anyone in traditional residence halls must enroll in the Premier meal plan), student activity fee 462, for total billed charges of USD 96,646; estimated non-billed costs are books and materials 1,600, transportation 800+ (based on home address), personal 1,128 and average loan fees 50, listed as USD 3,578 in total. For juniors and seniors on campus, housing is 10,132 and total billed charges 97,430. Figures for 2027 entry are not on the pages read.
• The Colgate Commitment: the site says that starting in fall 2026, U.S. citizens and permanent residents with total family income of up to USD 300,000 (and assets typical for that range) are eligible: income of USD 175,000 or less generally attends tuition-free; up to USD 200,000 generally gets a package without loans; families between 175,000 and 200,000 generally pay 5% of income toward tuition, 200,000 to 250,000 pay 7% and 250,000 to 300,000 pay 10%; above USD 300,000 Colgate continues to meet 100% of the demonstrated need of admitted students. The site notes these are general descriptions, not guarantees of a particular offer. To apply for aid, indicate the intent on the admission application and apply before receiving the admission decision.
• Department scholarships: the department page lists prizes it gives: the Oswald T. Avery Award (for senior majors in molecular biology), the Raymond J. Myers Award (for senior majors in biology) and the Christopher Oberheim Memorial Award (for a biology student showing great promise in research); the page gives no amounts and does not say whether they are open to international students.
• Resident preference or guarantee: not on the pages read; not published.

6. International students

• Definition and profile: Colgate defines international students as non-U.S. citizens (U.S. dual citizens, permanent residents and U.S. citizens living abroad are not included). The site says international students are 9% of the student body, from 87 countries, and applications from international students carry no fee. Required materials are the same as the first-year checklist.
• English tests: non-native speakers who do not study at a secondary school where English is the main language of instruction submit one of: TOEFL iBT 4.5 (printed that way, scale not stated), IELTS 7, or Duolingo English Test 130, sent by the testing agency. The site says it does not waive the English requirement based on SAT results.
• Interviews: non-native speakers are encouraged to submit an InitialView or Vericant interview before January 15 (November 1 for ED I).
• Transcripts and exams: current seniors submit mid-year grades as soon as available, or predicted final grades from a school official if the school gives no mid-year grades; graduates submit the final transcript; everyone submits a final transcript on completing secondary school, sent directly by the school (transcripts submitted by students are not accepted). Results of national or international exams must come from the testing agency or be emailed by a school official to admission@colgate.edu.
• Aid: the site says Colgate meets 100% of every international student’s demonstrated need, but also states admission is need-aware for all applicants, with the most competitive applicants admitted regardless of whether they applied for aid. To be considered, submit the CSS Profile by the application deadline; the same page gives the deadline for this request as November 1 for ED I and January 22 for ED II and Regular Decision, while the application deadline for those rounds is January 15, so the two statements conflict; ask admissions. Paper or PDF copies are not accepted.
• Proof of funds: the pages read do not list financial documents for the visa; not published, so ask admissions.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say how Gaokao results are used; this is not published, so ask admissions.
• Transcripts: a transcript not in English needs the official original and an official English translation, submitted by a school official; other rules are as in the international section.
• Interviews and videos: Colgate encourages international students to submit an InitialView or Vericant interview, and suggests an InitialView video to share their story.
• Testing and English: SAT/ACT is optional; English requirements are in the previous section.
• Any other China-specific guidance is not published on the pages read; ask admissions.

8. Transfer students

• Who can apply: students who have matriculated in a college-level degree program, or who hold an associate degree.
• Deadlines: fall semester entry March 15, decision late April; spring semester entry November 1, decision early December. The pages print no year; confirm.
• Materials: the Common App for Transfer or Coalition on Scoir transfer application (with essay); the USD 60 fee or a waiver (waived for non-U.S. citizens and U.S. veterans); official high school and college transcripts; a college official’s report; a mid-year report; and an academic evaluation from a college professor. SAT/ACT is optional; non-native speakers who did not study at an English-medium secondary school or college submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.
• Credit: the site says courses from a strong liberal arts curriculum with a grade of C or better generally transfer; grades of C- or lower and pass/fail courses receive no credit; no more than 16 course credits can transfer; transfer courses may not satisfy the Common Core requirement; business and vocational or professional courses generally do not transfer. Transferring the equivalent of 6 to 13 Colgate credits gives sophomore standing, and 14 to 16 junior standing. Admitted students get a preliminary credit evaluation with the acceptance letter; official evaluations are completed by faculty after admission. Individual departments decide which outside courses count toward a major. The biology department says no more than two biology course credits transferred from other institutions may be applied toward major requirements, a student transferring with upper-class standing may petition for a third, and transferred courses cannot count toward the lab-course requirement; students planning to transfer a course give the chair a course description and syllabus before taking it.
• Aid and housing: transfer students can apply for need-based aid and must submit all aid materials by the admission deadline; Colgate guarantees housing for all students, and those entering with sophomore or junior standing should expect to live on campus.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• ED I November 1; ED II and Regular Decision January 15 (confirm the year); USD 60 fee
• Two core academic teacher recommendations, a counselor recommendation, transcript and mid-year grades; SAT/ACT optional
• High school course requirements are not published; ask admissions, then ask the department chair about declaring a major
• Biology and Molecular Biology majors complete a one-credit research experience

International students (including those from China):

• English: TOEFL iBT 4.5 (scale not stated on the page), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 130; an InitialView or Vericant interview is encouraged
• Colgate says it meets 100% of demonstrated need but admission is need-aware; the CSS Profile deadline is stated two ways, so confirm
• Ask admissions how Gaokao results are used

Transfer students:

• Fall entry March 15, spring entry November 1 (confirm the year)
• College transcript and a professor’s evaluation; up to 16 credits transfer, with at most two biology credits applied to the major

Sources: Colgate University, Department of Biology; Biology academic program (2026-27 catalog); Biology major; Molecular Biology major; Biology research; First-year applicants; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Transfer and pre-matriculation credit (including AP/IB); 2026-27 tuition and fees; Financial aid; The Colgate Commitment. The deadline pages print no year, so confirm they apply to the fall 2027 entry cycle; costs are the 2026-27 figures, and 2027 entry figures are not on the pages read. Check Colgate’s website for the latest.