These figures are the basis for determining financial aid eligibility, although individual student expenses may vary.
Grants
Columbia awards more than $122 million annually in Scholarships and Grants from all sources.
50% of Columbia students receive grants from Columbia and the average amount awarded is $40,441.
50% of Columbia students receive grants from any source.
17% of Columbia’s undergraduates receive the Pell Grant, a Federal Grant reserved for the neediest students in the country. This percentage is the highest in the Ivy League.
John Kluge’s recent gift of $400 million for Columbia’s financial aid programs is the single largest gift made to any university financial aid program.
Loans
Students are expected to borrow $0 to attend Columbia.
Work-Study
Students who receive work-study are able to earn during their academic year to help offset their expenses by working an average of 10 hours a week in an on-campus job.
Income
The median income of families receiving Columbia Grant is $93,113, but many families who earn as much as $200,000 a year can qualify for financial aid.
Parents earning $60,000 or less a year contribute $0 towards their children’s Columbia education. Please read our Press Release and related Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about our enhanced need-based financial aid policies.
Parents earning between $60,000 and $100,000 have substantially lowered contribution requirements.
Parents earning over $100,000 can still qualify for significant financial aid from Columbia.