International Financial Aid
What is the financial aid policy at Columbia?
All admitted students, including international and foreign students, are granted financial aid based upon the same principles:
- Financial aid at Columbia is need-based. There are no academic, athletic or talent or otherwise merit-based institutional scholarships.
- Columbia meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for ALL students, including foreign students. And we continue to meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need for all four years of study.
How does applying for financial aid affect an international applicant?
All applicants who are citizens of the United States, Mexico or Canada, permanent residents of the United States or students granted refugee visas by the United States are read in a need-blind manner, no matter where they attend school or where they reside. The term “need-blind” means financial need has no bearing on the admissions decision.
All other applicants are evaluated in a need-sensitive manner, which means that the admissions committee takes into consideration how much financial aid a student requires when rendering an admissions decision. Although financial aid is available for foreign students, candidates should be aware that their applications are read in a more selective process than are other candidates’. Columbia admits a large number of foreign students who receive a substantial amount of financial aid.
Who should apply for financial aid at Columbia?
As a foreign student, you should determine what amount you feel you and your family could afford to pay each year for four years of study. If you conclude that you and your family will be unable to assume the estimated total cost of attendance, you should apply for financial aid at the same time you apply for admission. If you are traveling to Columbia from another country, you will also want to consider travel expenses.
Non-U.S. citizens applying for financial aid must submit special financial aid forms. For more information, visit the pages below.
Applying Early Decision
Applying Regular Decision