The Columbia School of Social Work makes every effort to assist students with funding their education by offering a range of scholarship assistance. These efforts include institutional and competitive scholarships as well as fellowships and tuition assistance for military members and their families. Please see details about our funding options below.
Institutional scholarships
Institutional scholarships are available to full-time students who complete a valid FAFSA. These can range from between $5,000 to $30,000 each year, and most students see their aid renewed for their second year.
Students in the Part-Time to Full-Time (Extended) pathway, the One-Year Residency for Working Professionals, and the Part-Time pathway are eligible to file for financial aid and may be packaged with need-based institutional funding based on their need and the availability of funds. Students who begin with part-time enrollment will have their packages reassessed if they are registered for more than 10.5 credits to determine if their packages require any adjustments.
Competitive Scholarships and Fellowships
Several competitive scholarships and fellowships are available to students in all pathways who are entering their Specialized Year. Applicants must be enrolled in at least 10.5 credits, including practicum, in order to be considered for these scholarships. Below are brief descriptions of the available awards.
Please visit the CSSW competitive awards page at socialwork.columbia.edu/competitive-awards-at-cssw for more details, including application requirements:
- Paige E. Cook Jr. Fellowship: Awarded on the basis of academic excellence; Preference will be given to a student with a career interest in substance abuse, world of work, men’s issues, and cross-cultural practice in clinical practice. Applicants should reflect interest in these areas via concrete examples, such as work experience, volunteer positions, etc. This is a need- and merit-based award.
- Benjamin and Agnes Louard Fellowship: The Louard Scholarship will be given to one or two full-time CSSW students who have academic and leadership potential. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate a commitment to employment in the public or voluntary non-profit sector or in local grassroots groups serving primarily, but not restricted to, an African-American population. Your essay should reflect this commitment. This is a need- and merit-based award.
- Overbrook Fellowship for Advanced Study in Clinical Social Work: The Overbrook Scholarship is a partial tuition award to one or two students who demonstrate leadership potential in clinical social work. Please ensure that your personal statement reflects your interest and leadership opportunities in clinical social work. This can be demonstrated by work done in your classes, practicum placement or volunteer experiences. This is a need- and merit-based award.
- Mae L. Wien Prize in Family Planning, Counseling, and Population Control: The Mae L. Wien Memorial Prize is awarded to up to three students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of family planning, counseling, and population control. This is a merit-based award.
- Honjo International Scholarship Foundation Scholarship at CSSW: Supports annual scholarships to CSSW students who demonstrate an interest in, and past commitment to, furthering U.S.-Japan relations through their program of study and/or related activities. Up to three awards are given each year.
- Ito En Scholarship: The Ito En Scholarship will be awarded to up to three eligible students who best demonstrate how they plan to bring their social work training to the global community. This is a merit-based award.
- Fisher Cummings Washington Fellows Program: The Fisher Cummings Washington Fellows Program provides an enriching educational and professional experience for Specialized Year Policy Practice students who aspire to be leaders in social policy, administration, and community practice at the national level. Fellows complete their final placement as a block practicum placement at a federal agency or nongovernmental organization in Washington, D.C. Fisher Cummings Fellows who qualify for financial aid will receive additional scholarship aid as part of their fellowship program.
- Lowenstein Loan Repayment Fellowship: Awarded to graduating students to assist with the repayment of loans borrowed while at CSSW. Applicants must demonstrate need and have taken out at least $20,500 in loans in their final year at CSSW.
- Laura Rivera and Sor Rosa Scholarship: The Laura Rivera and Sor Rosa Scholarship will be awarded to a student who is pursuing a career in clinical practice where the social work profession’s core values, as specified in the NASW Code of Ethics, will be fully employed. The recipient will be determined based on the quality of the required essay, as detailed in the application requirements below, a copy of which will be provided to the donor. This is a need- and merit-based award.
- The New York City Community Scholarship is a full-tuition award offered to graduates of the City University of New York (CUNY) who are admitted and matriculate at CSSW. Three scholarships will be awarded each fall term.
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.
- Are you a veteran? Visit the “Federal Benefits for Members of the Armed Forces” section on Columbia’s Veterans Affairs site to learn more about options for veterans and service members, including the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Did you serve in AmeriCorps? Contact AmeriCorps directly to see if you qualify for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Recipients can use the award to repay qualified student loans or to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions like Columbia University.
- Are you a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV)? Be sure to indicate your RPCV status within your MSW application to be considered for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program. This fellowship program offers financial assistance while allowing Peace Corps Volunteers to continue their service to underserved communities. To learn more about our partnership with Coverdell, visit the Columbia page on the Peace Corps website.