

Funding your Education
Funding your education at SIPA
The SIPA Financial Aid Office is dedicated to helping its students explore all available means to finance their education. We provide access to federal, institutional, and private funding. Our financial aid staff is dedicated to working with you to assist throughout the application process and help you reach your goals. Students are encouraged to create a financing plan by the time the enrollment decision is made, and that plan should cover the duration of the academic program. Students’ plans typically include a combination of their own and/or family resources, student loans, and whatever funding they may qualify for from SIPA or external agencies. Financial aid is not available for expenses incurred during summers in which a student is not enrolled in classes.
SIPA and Columbia University Funding
Learn about the types of financial aid in the form of scholarships, fellowships and assistantships available to SIPA students, both from SIPA directly and other funds made available University-wide.
Financial Aid Deadlines
Fellowship Consideration: In order to receive funding consideration you must both apply before the fellowship 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.
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Fellowship Consideration Final Application Deadline MPA-EPM (Early Action & JJ/WBGSP) November 1 November 1 MPA-EPM December 20 February 5 MPA-ESP (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MPA-ESP January 15 February 15 MPA-GL (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MPA-GL December 20 March 1 -
Fellowship Consideration Final Application Deadline MIA (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MIA December 20 February 5 MPA (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MPA December 20 February 5 MPA-DP (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MPA-DP December 20 February 5 EMPA March 31 June 1 PhD in Sustainable Development* December 16 December 16 GPPN** February 15 February 15 -
Fellowship Consideration Final Application Deadline MIA October 15 October 15 MPA October 15 October 15 EMPA November 15 November 15

Financial Aid Timeline
September
Admissions application opens (indicate financial aid request on application)
October
FAFSA is available for completion (U.S. citizens and permanent residents)
December
Financial aid application deadline (part of the admissions application)
Mid-March
Admission and financial aid decisions released via slate student portal
April to early May
Student admission and financial aid offer responses due
Financial Aid News
Scholarship News
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Onassis Foundation Scholarships (Deadline for submission: February 28, 2025)
FAFSA News
- 2025–26 FAFSA® Form Now Available
- FAFSA guide 2025-26: Everything students and families need to know about completing the form this year
Federal Loans
Columbia & SIPA News
- February 5, 2025 - Final Admission Deadline for :
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MIA, MPA, MPA-DP (Fall 2025 admission),
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MPA-EPM (Summer 2025 admission),
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February 15, 2025 - Final Admission Deadline for :
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MPA-ESP (Summer 2025 admission),
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MPA-GL (Summer 2025 admission),
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Global Public Policy Network (Fall 2025 admission)
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Financial Aid Resources
Contact Us

Financial Aid Office
Columbia University
School of International and Public Affairs
514 West 113th Street
New York, NY 10025
+1 212-854-6216
[email protected]
Brandon Smith, Director of Financial Aid
Lakhbir Singh, Associate Director of Financial Aid
Quintin Sipp, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
NOTE: As a matter of your convenience, privacy and safety, we created online office hours, and ask students to make this the primary means of meeting with Financial Aid staff.