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Tuition and Fees

MIA, MPA, and MPA-DP

Estimated cost of attendance for the Master of Public Administration, Master of International Affairs, and MPA in Development Practice programs for the 2023-2024 academic year. These costs are estimates as of March 15, 2023, and direct costs (tuition and fees charged by the University) are subject to change.

  •   Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 32,784 32,784 65,568
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by domestic students) 1,756 2,852 4,608
    Health Service Fee 674 674 1,348
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 400
    University Services and Support Fee 576 576 1,152
    Student Activity Fee  60 60 120
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 36,050 37,146 73,196

    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs
    Rent and Food 9,063 11,629 20,692
    Books 500 500 1,000
    Personal Expenses 1,999 2,547 4,546
    Transportation 508 635 1,143
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 12,070 15,311 27,381

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    48,120

    		 52,457 100,577

  • All students in their first semester of enrollment at Columbia University are charged a $105 Document Fee (formerly known as Transcript Fee).

    International students must pay:

    • medical insurance
    • $150 per semester International Students Fee
    • $106 I-20 fee only during their first semester of enrollment

    New students in the MPA-DP program are charged an additional $1,000 in their first term of enrollment, which contributes to the cost of the 12 week summer professional field placement, one week Getting Started Program, and 3 day MPA-DP retreat.

    Total Estimated Cost of Attendance includes both direct and indirect costs.

    • Direct costs are those charged by Columbia University. The tuition and fees indicated above are for the stated year only. All tuition and fees assume full-time attendance; your costs may vary if you do not enroll full-time.  Additional tuition charges for enrollment in excess of 18 credits in a semester are $2,740 per credit.  For information on billing and payments, please visit the University's Student Financial Services website.
    • Indirect costs are those not billed by Columbia (unless you live in University housing) and reflect estimated living and miscellaneous expenses incurred by students for the 9-month academic year (September through May only); yours may vary. If you find that your costs exceed these estimates and you would like to increase your student loan eligibility, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.   
    • Figures above do not include the costs of relocating to New York, if applicable.
    • These costs are for students in residence at SIPA.  Students enrolled in international dual degree programs will be charged by the school they are attending at that school's rates for tuition.

MPA-EPM

Estimated cost of attendance for the MPA-EPM program for the 2023-2024 academic year. These costs are estimates as of March 15, 2023, and direct costs (tuition and fees charged by the University) are subject to change.

  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 32,784 32,784 32,784 98,352
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by domestic students) 1,082 1,756 2,852 5,690
    Health Service Fee 472 674 674 1,820
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 501 576 576 1,653
    Student Activity Fee    60 60 120
    Document Fee 105 0 0 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 35,144 36,050 37,146 108,340

    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs

    		    
    Rent and Food 6,796 9,063 11,629 27,488
    Books 500 500 500 1,500
    Personal Expenses 1,528 1,999 2,547 6,074
    Transportation 381 508 635 1,524
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,070 15,311 36,586

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 44,349 48,120 52,457 144,926

  • All students in their first semester of enrollment at Columbia University are charged a $105 Document Fee (formerly known as Transcript Fee).

    International students must pay:

    • medical insurance
    • $150 per semester International Students Fee
    • $106 I-20 fee only during their first semester of enrollment

    Total Estimated Cost of Attendance includes both direct and indirect costs.

    • Direct costs are those charged by Columbia University. The tuition and fees indicated above are for the stated year only. All tuition and fees assume full-time attendance; your costs may vary if you do not enroll full-time.  Additional tuition charges for enrollment in excess of 19 credits in a semester are $2,740 per credit.  For information on billing and payments, please visit the University's Student Financial Services website.
    • Indirect costs are those not billed by Columbia (unless you live in University housing) and reflect estimated living and miscellaneous expenses incurred by students for the 12-month academic year; yours may vary. If you find that your costs exceed these estimates and you would like to increase your student loan eligibility, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.      
    • Figures above do not include the costs of relocating to New York, if applicable.

EMPA

Estimated cost of attendance for the Executive MPA program for the 2023-2024 academic year. These costs are estimates as of March 15, 2023, and direct costs (tuition and fees charged by the University) are subject to change.

  •  

    Summer 2023

    		 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 13,836 13,836 13,836 41,508
    Health Service Fee 0 229 229 458
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 143 283 283 709
    Student Activity Fee  0 60 60 120
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 14,179 14,608 14,608 43,395

    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs

    		    
    Rent and Food 6,796 9,063 11,629 27,488
    Books 500 500 500 1,500
    Personal Expenses 1,528 1,999 2,547 6,074
    Transportation 381 508 635 1,524
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,070 15,311 36,586

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 23,384 26,678 29,919 79,981
  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 20,754 20,754 20,754 62,262
    Health Service Fee 0 229 229 458
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 143 283 283 709
    Student Activity Fee 0 60 60 120
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 21,907 21,526 21,526 64,149

    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs

    		    
    Rent and Food 6,796 9,063 11,629 27,488
    Books 500 500 500 1,500
    Personal Expenses 1,528 1,999 25,47 6,074
    Transportation 381 508 635 1,524
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,070 15,311 36,586

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 30,302 33,596 36,837 100,735
  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 27,672 27,672 27,672 83,016
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by domestic students) 1,082 1,756 2,852 5,690
    Health Service Fee 0 229 229 458
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 143 283 283 709
    Student Activity Fee  0 60 60 120
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 29,097 30,200 31,296 90,593

    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs

    		    
    Rent and Food 6,796 9,063 11,629 27,488
    Books 500 500 500 1,500
    Personal Expenses 1,528 1,999 2,547 6,074
    Transportation 381 508 635 1,524
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,070 15,311 36,586

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 38,302 42,270 46,607 127,179

  • EMPA students are charged tuition at a rate of $2,306 per credit. The examples in the different tabs show tuition rates for 6, 9, or 12 credits per semester; actual tuition charges will vary each semester depending on students' individual courseloads.  Please note that some fees become applicable when students enroll for 12 credits (officially a full-time courseload) that are not charged to students enrolled for fewer than 12 credits.

    All students in their first semester of enrollment at Columbia University are charged a $105 Document Fee (formerly known as Transcript Fee).

    All international students are charged a $150 International Student Fee each semester as well as an additional $106 I-20 fee during their first semester of enrollment at Columbia.

    Total Estimated Cost of Attendance includes both direct and indirect costs.

    • Direct costs are those charged by Columbia University. The tuition and fees indicated above are for the stated year only. For information on billing and payments, please visit the University's Student Financial Services website.
    • Indirect costs are those not billed by Columbia (unless you live in University housing) and reflect estimated living and miscellaneous expenses incurred by students for the 12-month academic year; yours may vary. If you find that your costs exceed these estimates and you would like to increase your student loan eligibility, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.     
    • Figures above do not include expenses of relocating to New York, if applicable.

MPA-ESP

Estimated cost of attendance for the MPA-ESP program for the 2023-2024 academic year. These costs are estimates as of March 15, 2023, and direct costs (tuition and fees charged by the University) are subject to change.

  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 30,096 30,096 30,096 90,288
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by domestic students) 1,082 1,756 2,852 5,690
    Health Service Fee 472 674 674 1,820
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 250 250 250 750
    University Services and Support Fee 501 576 576 1,653
    Student Activity Fee  60 60 60 180
    Document Fee 105 0 0 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 32,506 33,412 34,508 100,426

    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs

    		    
    Rent and Food 6,796 9,063 11,629 27,488
    Books 500 500 500 1,500
    Personal Expenses 1,528 1,999 2,547 6,074
    Transportation 381 508 635 1,524
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,070 15,311 36,586

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 41,711 45,482 49,819 137,012

  • All students in their first semester of enrollment at Columbia University are charged a $105 Document Fee (formerly known as Transcript Fee).

    International students must pay:

    • medical insurance
    • $150 per semester International Students Fee
    • $106 I-20 fee only during their first semester of enrollment

    Total Estimated Cost of Attendance includes both direct and indirect costs.

    • Direct costs are those charged by Columbia University. The tuition and fees indicated above are for the stated year only. All tuition and fees assume full-time attendance; your costs may vary if you do not enroll full-time.  Additional tuition charges for enrollment in excess of 19 credits in a semester are $2,510 per credit.  For information on billing and payments, please visit the University's Student Financial Services website.
    • Indirect costs are those not billed by Columbia (unless you live in University housing) and reflect estimated living and miscellaneous expenses incurred by students for the 12-month academic year; yours may vary. If you find that your costs exceed these estimates and you would like to increase your student loan eligibility, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.         
    • Figures above do not include the costs of relocating to New York, if applicable.

PhD in Sustainable Development

Where to find cost of attendance information for the PhD in Sustainable Development program.

MPA-GL

Estimated cost of attendance for the MPA Global Leadership program for the 2023-2024 academic year. These costs are estimates as of March 15, 2023, and direct costs (tuition and fees charged by the University) are subject to change.

  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    ESTIMATED DIRECT COSTS
    Tuition 5,000 32,784 32,784 70,568
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by domestic students) 1,082 1,756 2,852 5,690
    Health Service Fee 472 674 674 1,820
    SIPA Computer Lab Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 501 576 576 1,653
    Student Activity Fee - 60 60 120
    Document Fee 105 - - 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 7,360 36,050 37,146 80,556

    ESTIMATED INDIRECT COSTS
    Rent and Food 3,020 9,063 11,629 23,712
    Books 500 500 500 1,250
    Personal Expenses 979 1,999 2,547 5,225
    Transportation 254 508 635 1,397
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 4,453 12,070 15,311 31,834
     

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS

    		 11,813 48,120 52,457 112,390

    • All students in their first semester of enrollment at Columbia University are charged a $105 Document Fee (formerly known as Transcript Fee).

      International students must pay:

    • medical insurance
    • $150 per semester International Students Fee
    • $106 I-20 fee only during their first semester of enrollment

    • Total Estimated Cost of Attendance includes both direct and indirect costs.

    • Direct costs are those charged by Columbia University. The tuition and fees indicated above are for the stated year only. All tuition and fees assume full-time attendance; your costs may vary if you do not enroll full-time.  Additional tuition charges for enrollment in excess of 18 credits in a semester are $2,740 per credit.  For information on billing and payments, please visit the University's Student Financial Services website.
    • Indirect costs are those not billed by Columbia (unless you live in University housing) and reflect estimated living and miscellaneous expenses incurred by students for the 11-month academic year (July through May only); yours may vary. If you find that your costs exceed these estimates and you would like to increase your student loan eligibility, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.      
    • Figures above do not include the costs of relocating to New York, if applicable.