Money for your studies COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Money for your studies COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog If you’re interested in pursuing a degree at SIPA, don’t let financial concerns be an obstacle to your goals.   The majority of SIPA students receive some type of financial assistance, including institutionally-funded Fellowships and Scholarships, student loans, and on-campus Work Study jobs.   Other students are supported by their employers or other third parties…so for many of our students, there are a number of financing options available. Fellowships SIPA fellowships provide students with varying combinations of tuition assistance (much like a grant or scholarship), stipends for living expenses, and part-time jobs on campus.   Fellowships are merit-based and competitive, and all you need to do is complete the Fellowship section of the SIPA Application for Admission and you’ll be considered (some programs have additional requirements, which are identified on the application).     If you haven’t completed your application yet, visit the SIPA Admissions page and click on either “Online Application” or “Download Application” to review; essays will be required, so it’s time to write!     If you are awarded a Fellowship, you must enroll for a full-time course load. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, you can apply for a SIPA Fellowship or Scholarship.   For more information on these awards, click here. Student Loans Many long-term financing options are available in the form of loans from the Federal government and various private sources (the Federal loans typically offer better rates and terms).   Most loans are only available to domestic students.   To be considered, domestic students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, at www.fafsa.gov.   The information collected on the FAFSA is used by Financial Aid staff to determine your eligibility for various types of loans.   We will notify you about what types of Federal student loans you qualify for and the amount. There are also privately funded student loans available to use to supplement Federal student loans or in place of Federal loans for students who don’t qualify (including some for international students, with co-borrowers).   Most are credit-based.   For more information on private loans, click here. Work-Study Employment If you’re a domestic student, you might also qualify for a part-time position on campus under the Federal Work-Study program.   Click here for more information. You’ll probably have questions about financing your education along the way.   The Financial Aid Office is available to assist you in any way we can.   Please feel free to contact us at sipa_finaid@columbia.edu or 212-854-6216.