2025-2026 Cost of Attendance

Notes

• These figures are the basis for determining financial aid eligibility, although individual student expenses may vary.
• Figures with an * represent a cost billed directly by Columbia.
• First year students are required to live on campus. The housing cost for continuing students reflects that upperclass residences often have kitchens or other additional amenities.
• In the first semester of attendance, first-year and incoming transfer/combined plan students are charged one-time transcript and orientation fees totaling $730. This amount is included in the first-year student fees amount listed above.
• The estimated travel budget accounts for two round trip flights to and from campus. This amount is more for students whose primary state (or country) of residence is further from New York City ($626 for a student from Indiana versus $1,294 from California).
• Students living off campus (and not living with a parent) will have the same on-campus allowance for housing and food expenses.
• Students with dependents may request for dependent care expenses to be included in the cost of attendance.

Additional Fees

• For most course fees, automatic course fee waivers are awarded to students receiving Columbia grant. This excludes physical education courses.
• International students are charged an International Services Charge of $170 each semester. This figure is included in the cost of attendance of all students for whom it is charged.
• The cost of attendance does not factor in the cost of the student health insurance. Students who stay enrolled in the Columbia Health Insurance will be assessed charges of $2,044 in the Fall and $3,323 in the Spring.
  • Each year, beginning in mid-July through the end of September, students can request a waiver of the insurance, provided they already have comparable insurance that will cover them in NYC. More information and the link to the waiver application can be found here on Columbia Health's website.
  • Students on the health insurance can request to have the fees included in their cost of attendance as needed to assist with awarding Federal Work-Study or loan funds.

Grants

• Columbia College and Columbia Engineering awards more than $225 million annually in scholarships and grants from all sources to its undergraduate population.
• 51% of Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students receive grants from Columbia and the average amount awarded is $70,797.
• 24% of Columbia College and Columbia Engineering undergraduates receive the Pell Grant, a Federal Grant reserved for the students with the highest need in the country.

Loans

• Columbia College and Columbia Engineering do not use loans when meeting a student's financial need. Loans options are available to students who choose to borrow.

Work-Study

• Students who receive work-study are able to earn wages during their academic year to help offset their expenses by working an average of 7 hours a week in an on-campus job.

Income

• The median income of Columbia College and Columbia Engineering families receiving Columbia Grant is $96,229, but many families who earn as much as $250,000 a year can qualify for financial aid.
• Parents with calculated incomes below $66,000 a year and typical assets are expected to contribute $0 towards their children’s Columbia College or Columbia Engineering education.
• Students from families with calculated incomes between $66,000 and $150,000 and typical assets are able to attend Columbia College or Columbia Engineering tuition-free.