Columbia
Decision sheet

The starting point

Columbia does not offer merit, academic, athletic, or talent-based institutional scholarships — all financial aid is strictly need-based. Families with income below $66,000 (typical assets) pay zero. Families below $150,000 (typical assets up to ~$250,000) pay no tuition. The average first-year grant is approximately $70,797, and 51% of Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students receive a Columbia grant.

Start with the aid policy. This research does not list a merit award. Check the school's financial aid options and application requirements; an empty award list is not proof that no aid is available.

Awards to discuss

No merit awards are listed in this research. Ask the school about need-based aid and any other funding options.

Ask before you decide

1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: Outside scholarships first replace the Student Contribution and work expectation. Excess reduces the Columbia grant dollar-for-dollar. Outside scholarships will not reduce the Parent Contribution.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/columbia/merit-aid

• Columbia stacking policy: https://cc-seas.financialaid.columbia.edu/content/outside-scholarships
• Columbia Common Data Set: https://opir.columbia.edu/sites/opir.columbia.edu/files/content/Common%20Data%20Set/2024-25_Columbia_College_and_Columbia_Engineering_CDS.pdf
• Columbia cost-of-attendance worksheet: https://bulletin.columbia.edu/columbia-college/fees-expenses-financial-aid/

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.