As a student at Columbia, you are expected to apply for scholarships and grants from outside agencies. Outside scholarships provide an important benefit to students receiving need-based financial aid. We will decrease the self-help portion of your financial aid package (loans) dollar-for-dollar when you include outside scholarships in funding your education.

Please note, that you are required to notify our office of all outside scholarships, and funding sources even if the scholarship checks are made payable directly to you. This would ensure your total financial aid (including the outside scholarship) does not exceed your cost of attendance. Failure to do so may result in the forfeiture of future eligibility for financial aid from Columbia. Outside scholarships and funds awarded include:

• 529 Savings Plan
• AmeriCorps Awards
• Employer Tuition Assistance
• Outside/Private Scholarships

If the scholarship or benefit source will send the check directly to Columbia, please ask them to send it to Student Financial Services at:
 

Columbia University
Payment & Deposit Office
1140 Amsterdam Avenue
210 Kent Hall
New York, N.Y. 10027

Payment Processing Timeframes
Please allow at least 10–12 business days for mailed payments to appear on a student’s account.
Scholarships, 529 payments, and private loans may require additional processing time and may take longer to post.