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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.

Funding

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.

  •   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
timeline

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

FAFSA News

 

Federal Loans

 

Columbia & SIPA News

  • February 5, 2025 - Final Admission Deadline for :
    • MIA, MPA, MPA-DP (Fall 2025 admission),

    • MPA-EPM (Summer 2025 admission), 

  • February 15, 2025 - Final Admission Deadline for :

    • MPA-ESP (Summer 2025 admission),

    • MPA-GL (Summer 2025 admission),

    • Global Public Policy Network (Fall 2025 admission)

     

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Roaree the Columbia Lion Mascot standing next to alma mater statue.

Contact Us

Columbia Campus – Autumn

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. 

Schedule a Meeting