Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

The global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 presented institutions of higher education with challenges in teaching and learning, as well as in the assessment of academic performance. As a consequence of these challenges, Columbia University affirms the following principle:   

The University’s graduate and professional schools, as well as their respective admissions committees, will take into account the important disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak when reviewing student transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their customary practice of performing holistic reviews of individual applications or dossiers. Specifically, we will respect decisions made by institutions or individuals regarding the adoption of Pass/Fail or similar grading options during the period in question.

The Provost and University Deans adopted this principle to ensure that no applicants are disadvantaged by policy decisions made by their colleges/universities as a result of this unprecedented public health event.

Yes, you may apply simultaneously to more than one SIPA MPA degree program at SIPA. However, you should apply to the program(s) that most closely reflects your professional, personal, and geographic interests and experience. Admission decisions are determined by each individual program. SIPA will not accept simultaneous applications to its 21-month MIA and 21-month MPA programs. 

The Admissions Committee reviews each application thoroughly and with great care. All decisions are final.  There is no appeal process.

The Admissions Committee appreciates the commitment of time and energy put into each application.  However, we are unable to offer individual feedback on why they did not gain admission into the program.

Requesting Feedback Details

Yes, SIPA welcomes applications from candidates who have previously applied for admission, regardless of the outcome.

The application processes for all SIPA programs are handled online. All documents required to be considered for admission can be submitted through the online application. We do not require documents be mailed to our office. Feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 212-854-6216 or send an e-mail to [email protected] if you have any further questions.

Deadlines vary on based on program and term. Please see this website for more information.

Those who apply to an Early Action deadline will receive their enrollment decision sooner than those who apply after this deadline. They will receive any funding notifications with the rest of the Fellowship Consideration applications. An Early Action application is not binding.

In order to receive funding consideration you must both apply before the deadline (and ensure all of your materials are submitted as well), and mark that you would like to be considered for funding in your application.

The admissions committee seeks to admit candidates with a combination of proven academic ability and most successful applicants possess two to three years of relevant professional-level work experience. Please refer to the What We Look For page for details.

The $95 USD non-refundable application fee can be paid by credit card or check. Unfortunately, we do not grant fee waivers for financial hardship.

We may grant application fee waivers to applicants who meet the following criteria:

• Active duty U.S. military personnel
• AmeriCorps 
• Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellows
• Columbia University (Barnard, CC, GS, SEAS) 5-year dual-degree applicants 
• Columbia Displaced Persons' Scholarship applicants
• Graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Gradutes from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)
• Institute for International Public Policy (IIPP)
• Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program (MPA-EPM applicants only) 
• McNair Scholars
• Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF)
• Payne Fellows
• Peace Corps volunteers (MIA, MPA, MPA-DP applicants only)
• Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellows
• Teach for All network partners (currently in service)
• Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellows
• Truman Scholar
• Questbridge

Applicants requesting a fee waiver should email [email protected]. Applicants must be prepared to submit an official document confirming participation in the appropriate program. 

Decision notifications are posted to the application portal. You will receive an email when a decision is available.

MIA/ MPA: Fall Early Action applicants will receive decisions by January 1, and remaining fall decisions are communicated in mid-March. Decisions for spring applications are released by late November.

Yes, you must select your program and concentration of choice on your admissions application. For information on concentrations and specializations, please visit this website.

There is no separate application for SIPA fellowship consideration. In order to be considered for funding, you must select “yes” on the application and apply by the fellowship consideration deadline. SIPA has a need-blind admission policy, meaning an applicant’s financial need is not a factor in the admission decision.

To monitor the status of your application materials, you may log into your application portal. You will receive a notification email once a decision has been made.

If the Admissions Committee determines additional materials are required, you will be contacted. No additional materials may be uploaded after your application is submitted.

The school places a small number of applicants on an admissions waitlist each year. Students on the waitlist are notified when and if places become available in the entering class. The waitlist is not ranked, nor is there any guarantee that applicants on the list will be granted admission.

If your application has been placed on the waitlist, we ask that you respond to let us know if you would like to remain on the waitlist or be removed. Applicants who wish to remain on the waitlist will receive occasional updates via e-mail about their status; these updates may continue until our incoming class is finalized. A final notice will be emailed to all applicants on the waitlist once the class has been finalized. At any time you may contact us if you would like your application to be removed from the waitlist.

No. We do not permit applicants on the waitlist to submit any additional materials. These applications have already been evaluated by the Admissions Committee; newly submitted materials will not be reviewed unless requested by the Committee.

A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution is required to enroll at Columbia SIPA. Applicants must submit transcripts forany college or university attended, even if the coursework was not part of a degree program. We need the credits, grades, and grading scale to be submitted. Unofficial copies of transcripts may be uploaded to the admission site for admission consideration. Only if an offer of admission is made and the applicant accepts will we require the submission of official transcripts; these documents must be on file one month prior to orientation. In addition, official documentation of the degree conferred is required.

Classes that have notes such as T, TR, or CR will not be accepted. These notes generally refer to transfer classes. If an applicant attended one school and transferred to another and the new school only notes codes for transfer credit, the applicant must submit the transcript from the first school with the grade achieved.

If an applicant is currently in an academic program and will not finish the program by the time of the application deadline we ask that the applicant submit the most up-to-date transcript information. We do not require that a program be completed at the time of application. In other words, we can make an admission decision with incomplete transcripts if an applicant is still finishing a program. However, the academic degree must be completed prior to enrollment at SIPA. 

Materials that are not in English must be translated by an official translation agency and notarized. SIPA does not endorse or recommend any individual provider of translation services. Please submit both the original documents and the translations to the Admissions Office.

Once you have accepted our offer of admission, you must submit an official electronic transcript from each university you attended. This transcript must include degree conferral, or you must submit proof that the degree has been awarded.

If you completed a study abroad or exchange program that is credited on your “home” transcript (where your bachelor’s degree was conferred), the official transcript (from the abroad institution) is not needed. 

*For incoming GPPN students, all official transcripts are needed from colleges and universities prior to your enrollment of the partner dual degree institution. We also require official transcripts from the partner institution where you spent your first year of study with the exception of Sciences Po.

Accepted Transcripts:

• Domestic Institutions (within the United States):  All students who have attended a college or university in the United States must submit electronic transcripts directly from their school to the admissions office through a secure, password-protected system. Transcripts sent as email attachments are NOT considered official.
• International Institutions within the People’s Republic of China:  2) All students attending Chinese institutions will be required to contact CHESICC to arrange submission of a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Student's Academic Transcript” AND a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate” or "Online Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate" (for those earning a degree in China) to Columbia at [email protected].
• International Institutions (NOT including the People’s Republic of China):  3) All other students who have attended an international university (outside of the United States) must submit an electronic transcript (if their school offers secure online delivery) to sipa_new@columbia.edu.
  • If the university cannot send transcripts electronically via a secure, password-protected system, applicants must order a Course-by-Course Evaluation and International Credential Advantage Package to be sent electronically to the SIPA Office of Admissions. You may view a guide of arranging for the report to be sent to us here: WES Evaluation.pdf

Paper transcripts from outside of the United States cannot be mailed to our office under any circumstances.

References are integral to the application evaluation, and we encourage applicants to ask individuals who are equipped to attest to your academic abilities, leadership skills, and/or character. The Admissions Committee requires two recommendation letters, and your references may be either academic or professional.

International students who did not earn a four year bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) from an institution in which English is the primary language of instruction, must submit proof of competency in English by submitting TOEFL*, IELTS, or Cambridge English scores in order for the application to be reviewed.

In order for the application to be considered for admission, applicants must successfully achieve a minimum score on the English proficiency exam. By achieving a preferred score, admitted applicants will not be required to enroll in SIPA's mandatory American Language Program (admitted students required to take this course are notified in their admission letter). Scores must be verified after admission to the program, but before your scores expire. If scores will expire, please contact us well ahead of time so that we can retrieve the official scores before they expire. TOEFL scores must be reported to code 2161. 

• TOEFL ibt minimum score: 100, preferred score: 110 or above
• IELTS minimum score: 7.0, preferred score: 7.5 or above
• Cambridge English C1 Advanced/ C2 Proficiency: minimum score: 185 C1 Advanced, preferred score: 191 or above

Email us at [email protected] to request an English Proficiency Exam waiver at least four weeks prior to your application deadline. A completed waiver must be received in order to process your request. The waiver request should include details on how you think you have met the English proficiency aready like work experience and studies done. Each waiver is reviewed on an individual basis; submission of the waiver does not guarantee approval. 

*Acceptance of at-home TOEFL exams is subject to approval. Please reach out to our office immediately regarding your situation.

GRE (or GMAT) scores are currently optional for applicants in all programs, with the exception of the MPA in Economic Policy Management program. However, even if optional, we have found them to be useful indicators of academic ability. You may review this blog post here for additional information.

Applicants (who are reporting scores) must submit a self-reported (manually input) GRE or GMAT score. If admitted, applicants must arrange for the official test report(s) to be sent to the Office of Admissions prior to enrolling. Please note the Admissions Committee reserves the right to reverse an admission decision if the self-reported scores do not match official scores sent by the testing agencies.

Applicants who do not have evidence of quantitative coursework are strongly encouraged to submit a GRE/GMAT exam.

Columbia SIPA GRE school code is 2161 (there is no department code). Our GMAT codes: Master of International Affairs: QF8-64-56 and Master of Public Administration: QF8-64-99

We do NOT accept LSAT scores.

Self-reported test scores should be submitted with the application by the deadline. Scores must be verified after admission to the program, but before your scores expire.

SIPA has no minimum GRE or GMAT scores. The Admissions Committee carefully reviews every application in its entirety, including test scores, grades (particularly those in relevant coursework), letters of reference, and the applicant's personal statement and work experience.

We do not accept the at-home version of the GRE, GMAT, TOEFL or IELTS exams at this time.

The average age of an incoming MIA/MPA student is 26. However, we have received applications from students who are as young as 21 and as old as 61. The vast majority of MIA/MPA students are between 25 and 35 years old. Most admitted students have a minimum of 3 years of full-time work experience. 

We encourage all applicants to carefully review the curriculum set forth for the MIA and MPA programs, along with the various concentrations and specializations. The Admissions Committee will look for evidence of quantitative abilities, which can be reflected within the undergraduate transcript, resume, or standardized test scores. If you determine that you would like to supplement your application with additional coursework, you may consider courses in Economics and/or Statistics at an accredited institution.

Each year, 5 to 10 percent of accepted students come directly from undergraduate institutions. These are individuals with extraordinary academic records who have also had significant internship or study abroad experience. In some cases, recent undergraduates with very strong academic credentials are not offered admission, but are encouraged to reapply after they have gained at least one year or more of relevant work experience.

We do see a lot of candidates that are career-changers, and SIPA has students that come from many different academic backgrounds. What you will need to do is draw the connections clearly from your background and experience, to what you want to study at SIPA. Highlight your transferable skills for the Admissions Committee. There are many areas to do this within your application, including your resume and essays, and if applicable, the optional essay.

Please visit our tuition and fees homepage, this will provide information on your total cost of attendance including both direct and indirect costs: https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/admissions/financial-aid/tuition-fees

SIPA scholarship awards are based on a combination of merit and financial need. SIPA considers all admitted applicants for all applicable scholarships at the time of admission, provided that they indicate on their application for admission that they want to be considered for funding. The only requirement for most awards is to complete and submit the application for admission and all supporting materials by the appropriate deadline.

Please keep in mind financial aid cannot be used to pay for deposits. 

SIPA does not match or reconsider financial aid packages based on offers from other schools.

You will be evaluated for funding, as long as you indicate on your SIPA application for admission that you want to be considered for funding. The only requirement for awards is to complete and submit the application for admission, and all supporting materials if requested by the appropriate deadline. We recommend domestic students complete a FAFSA.

We will send out financial aid information in mid-March.  If you receive funding from SIPA, you will be notified by the admissions team via email.  If not, then you will not receive a notification.  Our funding is limited and competitive, so most students pay for their educational expenses through a combination of savings, external funding, loans and student employment. 

Assistantships are only available to second year students in the full-time two-year degree programs.  Students who wish to be considered for these positions must submit the Assistantship application to the Office of Student Affairs by the deadline, which is during the prior spring semester.  An Assistantship information session is held early each spring semester, after which the application becomes available. Compensation for Assistantships is in the form of salary, which is potentially taxable income.

By submitting your FAFSA for the current aid year, this allows you to be considered for federal work study eligibility.

Once the semester begins, the Office of the Registrar submits a file showing all enrolled students at the University to an entity called the National Student Clearinghouse.  All student loan servicers access this to confirm the enrollment status of all borrowers and adjust borrowers’ repayment statuses accordingly.  

No, the school does not offer institutional loan funding.

For domestic students to be considered for federal direct loan funding, you will need to submit a FAFSA for the current aid year. Private loans are also an option as well.

Columbia's FAFSA school code is 002707

In regards to private loan lenders for International students check out our full listing of lenders here: https://www.elmselect.com/v4/school/596/program-sele

We have an internal Graduate Plus loan request form. This form is made available to all students after you have been notified of a financial aid package. You will not be able to apply for the Graduate Plus loan through the Department of Education website.

Financial Aid is disbursed by the end of the first week of each semester, once enrollment is verified.

Please contact the SIPA Office of Financial Aid via email [email protected] we can reset your password, and unlock your account.

The student should log into SSOL and then click on “13. Update SSN/TIN”. The student will then be prompted to enter the SSN updating the student record. Please allow 5-7 business days for the account to be updated.

For school based funding students do not need to reapply each year.

For federal loan funding and work study eligibility domestic students would need to submit a FAFSA for each academic year, to be reviewed for federal financial aid eligibility. 

Please make sure you set up direct deposit via SSOL to receive your refund as fast as possible: https://www.sfs.columbia.edu/direct-deposit

Our colleagues at Student Financial Services (SFS) handle functions such as billing, collecting payments and posting charges on student accounts for all students throughout the University. Additional details and contact information can be found on SFS’s website (http://sfs.columbia.edu/).

For more information on outside funding resources, go here.

For admitted students who have committed, you may also create a free iGrad account, a financial wellness platform available to all Columbia students, which includes a robust scholarship engine. You may create your account at https://columbia.igrad.com/

Billing at Columbia is only sent online and are sent by Student Financial Services (not the SIPA Office of Financial Aid). Students will receive an e-mail notification when a new E-Bill is generated. To do this, the student should log into Student Services Online (SSOL), click on Account, select the View E-Bill and Pay by E-Check option, and then go to the Authorize Payers, and set up an account for each person he/she wishes to receive the bill.

Please note that there are two different ways in which to view the account. The first is the official E-Bill. The E-Bill is a monthly snapshot of the account balance at a given time, and will not update until a new E-Bill is generated. The second is the Recent Activity section. This section is updated daily, and will reflect the most current account balance.

Yes. Families may finance all or a portion of the bill through either a 5 month (one semester’s bill) or 10 month payment plan (full academic year). More information on the payment plan is available on Student Financial Services' website: https://sfs.columbia.edu/pay-plan

Sponsored students can set up arrangements with Student Financial Services (SFS) in the following ways, either pay by wire: https://www.sfs.columbia.edu/content/pay-wire or for more information on sponsored students: https://www.sfs.columbia.edu/sponsored-students

If you have private insurance, health Insurance can be waived via the Columbia Health office: https://health.columbia.edu/content/request-waiverexceptionaffirmation

For additional questions on health insurance please follow up with the Columbia Health office directly.