Institutional Scholarships
Institutional Scholarships
In addition to aid from federal and state governments or private sources, GS students may apply for institutional aid. Institutional aid for GS students is derived from three sources: endowment returns, annual gifts, and general University funds.
All prospective and current students are eligible to apply for a GS scholarship regardless of enrollment status (part or full time) or academic history.
How the GS Institutional Aid System Works
While need is taken into consideration, the GS institutional aid system is based primarily on merit, and is specifically designed for students who are usually financially independent and are often adults with families. Consequently the burden of financing an education falls disproportionately on the individual student, unlike the traditional- or dependent-student model, in which parental contributions are considered in the determination of need.
While General Studies scholarships can range from $500 to $18,000, students in their first period of enrollment will typically receive a scholarship between $6,200 and $8,000. Scholarships are awarded to students with demonstrated academic achievement and are influenced by financial need. Amounts typically increase from year to year based on academic success.
Scholarships are available to full- and part-time students and do not have to be repaid. Scholarships are available to new students, and in general, the level of support increases as students progress in their degree programs.
Funding is limited and current students must apply by the deadline each year in order to be given priority consideration.
How to Apply
Prospective and New Students
Prospective student applicants for institutional aid who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents must submit all of the following by the appropriate deadlines:
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School of General Studies New Student Scholarship Application
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Prospective student applicants for institutional aid who are international students must submit the online GS New Student Scholarship Application by the appropriate deadline.
Continuing Students
Continuing students interested in institutional aid who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents must submit all of the following by the appropriate deadlines:
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School of General Studies Continuing Student Scholarship Application
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
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Planned Enrollment Form
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In order to access the Planned Enrollment Form, you will need your Columbia Student ID number, or PID, which consists of the letter C followed by 9 numbers. Your PID can be found on any page in SSOL (if you do not see it, change your viewing options).
(The 2013-2014 Planned Enrollment Form will be available in the days ahead. Continuing students should consult their Columbia email account for the annoucement.)
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In order to access the Planned Enrollment Form, you will need your Columbia Student ID number, or PID, which consists of the letter C followed by 9 numbers. Your PID can be found on any page in SSOL (if you do not see it, change your viewing options).
Continuing student applicants for institutional aid who are international students must submit the online GS Continuing Student Scholarship Application and Planned Enrollment Form by the appropriate deadlines.
FAFSA
Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for institutional scholarships as well as federal and state financial aid. The Columbia University FAFSA Code is 002707.
After the FAFSA has been submitted, students may confirm the status of their applications on the FAFSA website. FAFSA processing normally takes 2-3 weeks. Students with additional questions about the FAFSA application process may wish to call the Federal Aid Student Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
Policies Governing General Studies Scholarships
All scholarship recipients must reapply every year. Eligibility for General Studies scholarships requires at least half-time enrollment (6 credits). General Studies scholarships are normally only available for the fall and spring semesters and are not available for summer enrollment.
Continuing General Studies students in Columbia University-sponsored study abroad programs—i.e., a program administered by Columbia University—may have their scholarships credited to their University student accounts. Students studying abroad on a Columbia-approved program—i.e, a program not administered by Columbia University—are not eligible for institutional scholarships during their time abroad. Students are advised to contact the Director of Educational Financing before beginning their studies abroad.
Scholarships are not generally available to tuition-exempt students or to those who take more than 124 credits to complete their degree. (This can include students who belatedly change their major and must exceed 124 credits for completion.)
The Scholarship Committee meets annually to review applications and award scholarships for the following academic year. Application results are mailed to all applicants.
Named Institutional Scholarships
The School of General Studies Institutional Scholarship Fund is supported by a number of generous donors. A student who completes a GS scholarship application is automatically considered for an award from any of the school's funds for which he or she qualifies.
