The Combined Plan Program: Admissions and Financial Aid

Students can apply for the Combined Plan program in their junior (3-2 program) or senior (4-2) year of undergraduate study. High school students do not apply until they are enrolled in an undergraduate institution, and should contact their prospective institution(s) for more information.

Please contact the Graduate Student Services office for more information about the 4-2 Master of Science program, as that is not administered by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Students who attend affiliated liberal arts schools must meet the requirements listed below to earn guaranteed admission. In addition to guaranteed admission, we offer an application review process, so students who do not meet these requirements or who attend non-affiliate schools are welcome to apply. The requirements for guaranteed admission should serve as guidelines for this review process.

Requirements for Guaranteed Admission

Candidate began at affiliate school prior to fall 2011

Candidate began at affiliate school in fall 2011

1. Full-time enrollment at an affiliated school for at least the past two years.

1. Full-time enrollment at an affiliated school for at least the past two years.

2. An overall and pre-engineering GPA of 3.0 or higher as calculated by Columbia.

2. An overall and pre-engineering GPA of 3.30 or higher as calculated by Columbia. Additionally, the minimum grade for each pre-engineering science or math course must be a B or better on the first attempt.

3. Three favorable recommendations: one each from your institution’s Combined Plan liaison, a math and a science professor.

4. Successful completion, by the end of the spring semester in which you are applying, of the specific prerequisite courses for your intended major in the Pre-Combined Plan Curriculum Guide.

5. Completion (before entering Columbia) of the major and distribution requirements prescribed by your home institution for graduation.

You should touch base with the liaison at your school in order to determine which classes fulfill Columbia pre-engineering foundation and major-specific courses.

Admissions Timeline

  • December 1, 2012: Application available online
  • February 15, 2013: Preferred/highly recommended deadline to submit application materials
  • March 1, 2013: Deadline to submit financial aid materials
  • March 15, 2013: Final deadline to submit application materials
  • Mid-April 2013: Candidates receive responses

Application Instructions

In addition to our application instructions, the following should be noted:

  • Application is for the fall semester only.
  • There is an $80 application fee. (Fee waivers may be available; once you obtain documents demonstrating eligibility from your Financial Aid office, you should e-mail the Combined Plan program.)
  • Admitted students may be required to provide syllabi of prerequisite courses for Columbia faculty to evaluate in order to determine course transferability
  • Students apply and are admitted to specific engineering majors; the option to change majors is not guaranteed.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to our Combined Plan students.Please see our instructions for further information, including how to apply. Deadlines and documents can be found on the Financial Aid website.  Additionally, the following should be noted:

  • Columbia awards no merit scholarships; all financial aid is need-based only.
  • The Combined Plan program admits all students need-blind; financial need does not affect one's chances of admission.
  • We do not guarantee that we can meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.
  • Limited financial aid is available for international students.
  • Candidates are not guaranteed the same financial aid package they received at their affiliate schools.

Important Documents