Hartwick Pricing Transparency
More Transparent. Less Confusing.
For many years, private colleges have set high tuition rates and then offered substantial scholarships to help offset the cost. For instance, a school’s tuition and fees might be $60K annually, but with a $20K scholarship, the net cost to students would be reduced to $40K per year.
There are two reasons for this. A college seems more prestigious if it looks more expensive. And appears more generous if it offers large scholarships. At Hartwick, we’ve decided this is a confusing and unnecessary game that we do not want to play.
This is why, beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, we’ve repriced the Hartwick experience to reflect the transparency we want to see more of in higher education.
We know that the true value of a Hartwick education lies in our innovative liberal arts curriculum, dedicated faculty, career preparation, and supportive community — not in inflated prices and artificial discounts. Students deserve their best chance at financial freedom through clear pricing, not misleading scholarships that attempt to offset sky-high tuition.
Steps Toward Financial Aid
Becoming the Life Balance College
We are reshaping the way we talk about Hartwick College. Starting in Fall 2024, Hartwick is officially known as “The Life Balance College.” While this institutional position is new, it’s really just a fitting name for the holistic education Hartwick has always provided.
Academic Well-being
Combine two areas of study with a double major (like creative writing and digital marketing!). Explore fields that easily feed into specific career interests. Our flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum, supported by FlightPath, is delivered through expert faculty and designed to fit your needs and aspirations.
Physical & Emotional Wellness
Keeping our bodies as active as our minds is a top priority at Hartwick. From our on-campus Table Rock Trail system to courses like Relaxation Techniques, you’ll have access to a variety of health and wellness resources to keep your body and mind healthy throughout college.
Outcomes
Real-world work experiences, J Term travel courses and deep alumni connections support you in achieving a strong return on investment. Our direct and transparent pricing is straightforward, so you can start out making smart and confident financial choices.
Anticipating Your Questions
No, Hartwick College is not changing its name. The Life Balance College is part of a new initiative that reflects our commitment to student well-being, personal growth, and academic success. Hartwick College remains our official name.
While it hasn’t formally been how we describe our experience, Hartwick has always been about Life Balance. We provide a stellar academic experience, extensive opportunities to enhance physical and emotional health and outstanding outcomes to help our students achieve a well-balanced life. Financial well-being is part of this.
By describing Hartwick as The Life Balance College, we are making it clearer to those who have not yet experienced the College what we’re about, which will help more right-fit students discover us.
Our tuition transparency initiative is a part of this. We understand that college pricing has become confusing and complicated for families. By establishing our new cost structure, we can help families understand their college costs from the very beginning of their exploration of Hartwick.
It starts for all students for the fall 2025 semester. To facilitate transparency, we are providing an estimate of what you can expect to pay–approximately eight months before we usually would.
Current students will pay less than they would have if we had not changed our price. While, on average, colleges increase their price by 8% annually, our new price means that students will save between $200-$600 next year compared to what they would have paid had we not reduced our price.
There is a net cost increase for all students for next year compared to what they are paying this year due to the annual tuition increase that Hartwick implements each year.
Students will also save money through the Life Balance Credit and following the 2025-26 school year, smaller annual tuition increases.
For more information on the Life Balance Credit, please visit www.hartwick.edu/balancecredit.
While your current merit scholarship will change in fall 2025, we are committed to honoring your current net cost plus a reduced annual increase in tuition. All current students received an email outlining their own specific financial aid estimate and will receive a paper copy in the mail in the coming weeks.
Yes, we will continue to honor the net cost associated with HartLand Promise for eligible students. Our commitment to providing a quality education at a more transparent price remains unchanged.
Hartwick College’s residency policy remains the same, and students are encouraged to make the best housing choice for their situation. HartLand Promise students are still required to live on campus.
No, please note that in the estimated financial aid costs, we used the standard rate of a double room with an all-access meal plan. Once students make their individual room and board selections in spring 2025, their actual room and board rate will be adjusted accordingly.
All current students can start earning the Life Balance Credit immediately. Those who complete it in the fall 2024 semester will see a $250 credit on their spring bill. For more information, visit www.hartwick.edu/balancecredit.
Yes, we strongly encourage completing the FAFSA if you are applying for federal or state financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study programs.
If you need help understanding your estimate or addressing your financial situation, please reach out to our Financial Aid Office. They are available to provide personalized guidance and help you explore options based on your specific needs. You can contact them at finaid@hartwick.edu, 607-431-4130 or visit Bresee Hall, room 218. We strongly encourage all students and families to take advantage of this opportunity.
Hartwick College is dedicated to doing our part to combat the crushing student debt crisis.
Beginning Fall 2025, we have made the cost of a Hartwick education more direct to reflect our commitment to our students’ financial well-being and to an environment of transparency in higher education.
Tuition and fees will be $22,000 per year and room and board will be $16,000 per year, while still offering up to $10,000 in annual scholarship opportunities.
There’s no catch. No hidden fees. No games. We simply believe our students deserve better than the confusion and stress surrounding college costs. So, we’re doing something about it. We are certain you will be paying less with this new tuition pricing than you would be paying next academic year without it. Please find your specific tuition details in the personalized financial aid plan mailed to you.
Your application for admission and FAFSA are reviewed carefully so that we can offer you all of the funds for which you qualify. When a student has special circumstances like those discussed, we will review their eligibility for aid. If you feel that your award should be re-evaluated based on this reason, please call us. We will do all that we can to help make Hartwick affordable for you.