These figures are the basis for determining financial aid eligibility, although individual student expenses may vary.
The Room and Board figure represents a first-year student living on campus for the full year. Room and Board for non-first year students is based on the standard room charge and Meal Plan B. Students not living on campus will instead have a $4,000 per semester off-campus living allowance to help with living and technology expenses related to remote learning.
First-year and incoming transfer/combined plan students are also charged one-time transcript and orientation fees totaling $590.
Grants
Columbia awards more than $150 million annually in scholarships and grants from all sources.
50% of Columbia students receive grants from Columbia and the average amount awarded is $52,073.
16% of Columbia’s undergraduates receive the Pell Grant, a Federal Grant reserved for the students with the highest need in the country.
John Kluge’s gift of $400 million for Columbia’s financial aid programs is one of the single largest gifts 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 wages 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 $97,020, but many families who earn as much as $200,000 a year can qualify for financial aid.
Parents with calculated incomes below $60,000 a year and typical assets are expected to contribute $0 towards their children’s Columbia education.
Parents with calculated incomes between $60,000 and $100,000 and typical assets have substantially lowered contribution requirements.
Parents earning over $100,000 can still qualify for significant financial aid from Columbia.