Hamilton
Decision sheet

The starting point

Selective LAC in upstate New York that offers zero merit aid, but combines need-blind admission for first-year domestic applicants with a 100%-of-need promise, capped student loans, and a published loan-first outside-scholarship rule that lets outside awards retire self-help before touching the Hamilton scholarship.

Start with the aid policy. This research does not list a merit award. Check the school's financial aid options and application requirements; an empty award list is not proof that no aid is available.

Awards to discuss

No merit awards are listed in this research. Ask the school about need-based aid and any other funding options.

Ask before you decide

1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: Hamilton's outside-scholarship policy is loan-first: outside awards first replace self-help (work-study and loans) before they touch the Hamilton College Scholarship. Outside awards exceeding the self-help components do replace Hamilton grant, but the loan/work-study layer protects institutional aid from displacement for most outside scholarships.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/hamilton-college/merit-aid

• Hamilton stacking policy: https://hamilton.edu/admission/finaid/policies/need
• Hamilton cost-of-attendance worksheet: https://hamilton.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/college-catalogue/financial-information/tuition-and-fees/tuition-and-fees-adjustments/tuition-rates-and-fees-for-the-2025-26-academic-year
• Hamilton Endowed Scholarships (need-based): https://sophosupdate.hamilton.edu/admission/finaid/scholarships
• Hamilton Loan Cap Policy: https://my.hamilton.edu/admission/finaid/types-of-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.