Paying for Your Degree

Paying for Your Degree

The Office of Financial Aid is committed to working with every student who qualifies for admission. As a student at Columbia School of Social Work, you will have access to a dedicated and knowledgeable financial aid team that provides detailed financial aid counseling throughout your tenure.

    Each year we award partial tuition scholarships to eligible students who have submitted a FAFSA.  Additional competitive and fellowship opportunities are available for Second-Year and Advanced Standing students. Many of these awards are made possible by the generous donations of alumni and friends committed to cultivating the next generation of social work professionals.

    Tuition and Financial Aid

    The Office of Financial Aid provides all students with:

    A yearly budget estimating the costs associated with your chosen program— known as the Cost of Attendance (COA). 

    NOTE: This budget is created each academic year to account for variable costs

    A Financial Aid Package to illustrate your options for covering these costs.

    Applying for Financial Aid

    Our students aren’t on their own when it comes to affording tuition. In fact, 90% of eligible FAFSA filers in 2022-2023 received institutional aid from Columbia. That’s why we’ve made a simple how-to-guide to make the application process easy.

     

    Your Financial Aid Package

    To apply for financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once our Office of Financial Aid receives your FAFSA data—which generally is not available to the School until after February 15th—we can begin the evaluation process for determining your financial aid package. Financial aid packages typically include a mix of financial assisting opportunities. 

    Cost of Attendance

    The Cost of Attendance consists of Tuition Fees, Living and Personal Expenses, and other Education-Related Expenses for the period during which you expect to be enrolled in our MSW Program. The estimated Cost of Attendance for each campus can be found below:

    Military and Volunteer Service Benefits

    If you served in the military or completed a term of service with AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps, you may qualify for benefits to assist you with funding your education.

    Scholarships to Support Your Education

    Need-Based Scholarships at CSSW

    The Columbia School of Social Work awards scholarships, typically ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, to full-time students who demonstrate financial need. Scholarship awards are usually renewed in the second year of study, as long as certain eligibility requirements are met. 

    Competitive Awards at CSSW

    The School offers several competitive scholarships and fellowships for students who are entering their final, or advanced, year of study. If eligible, you will be invited to apply via an email from the Office of Financial Aid. Award recipients are generally notified by the start of the fall term.

    Columbia-Wide Graduate Student Funding

    Columbia University offers other sources of funding to graduate students, including language-study stipends and research-based fellowships or grants. In addition to those listed below, the CSSW Office of Financial Aid will notify students via email when other University-sponsored funding opportunities become available.

    Non-Columbia Scholarship Opportunities

    Other awards are available to MSW students from outside sources. A number of our students have been successful in applying for funding opportunities offered by, or compiled by, our accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education.

    Questions?

    Contact the Financial Aid Office: