Many Columbia students receive funding from outside organizations, including merit-based scholarships, tuition benefits from an employer, ROTC and Veteran’s Benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill®).

The resources that students receive from outside sources become part of the financial aid award. Outside scholarships enable students to reduce the standard Student Contribution from income and Work-Study/Student Employment portions of the financial aid package.

Please note that these resources cannot be used to reduce or pay the Parent Contribution or any Student Contribution due to student assets, but can be used to cover the cost of Columbia medical insurance.

If your outside scholarship funding exceeds the total student responsibility, we will reduce the Columbia Grant by the excess amount. Please review our FAQ page detailing our laptop policy if you are a student with outside resources exceeding the total student responsibility. This kind of Cost of Attendance adjustment to include a laptop purchase can be done every other academic year if a student consistently has outside resources that exceed their total student responsibility. Note the laptop policy is not applicable to tablet purchases.

How do I report my outside scholarships to Columbia?

All students should complete the Outside Scholarship and External Payment Form as part of their application for financial aid each year, even if they have not received any outside scholarships. The form is available for download on the Forms section of our website, but it also becomes available once you complete the CSS profile and have gained access to the IDOC system. Most applicants and current students should submit the form through IDOC, but it can be submitted via email to ugrad-finaid@columbia.edu should the need arise.

If an outside agency requires a certification form to be completed, who should I contact?

Our officers can complete outside scholarship certification forms that request information about the cost of attendance and other financial aid received by a student. We can also certify basic enrollment information on that same form.

The Office of the Registrar can complete certification forms that solely require enrollment/registration information.

What should I do with my scholarship check?

Scholarship checks should be made payable to "Columbia University" and be mailed using USPS to the following address:

Financial Aid and Educational Financing

100 Hamilton Hall, MC 2802

1130 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, NY 10027

ATTN: Outside Scholarship Coordinator

Phone: 212-854-3711
Email: ugrad-finaid@columbia.edu

Please include your full name and Columbia ID# in either the memo field of the check or accompanying documentation so that the funds can be correctly applied to your account.

How do I apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program?

New and current undergraduate students of Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science may apply for Yellow Ribbon Funding by completing our Yellow Ribbon Program Application. Participation is available only to students who qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level according to their Certificate of Eligibility. Students who qualify are eligible for up to $10,000 in matching grants. For more information on our Yellow Ribbon Program, please contact our office or visit the Yellow Ribbon Program website.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.