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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. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or events selected by some students.

  •   Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 32,784 32,784 65,568
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 1,725 2,816 4,541
    Health Service Fee 682 682 1,364
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 400
    University Services and Support Fee 572 572 1,144
    Student Activity Fee  65 65 130
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 36,028 37,119 73,147

    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 528 660 1,188
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 12,090 15,336 27,426

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    48,118

    		 52,455 100,573

  • 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
    • $112 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. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or events selected by some students.

  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 32,784 32,784 32,784 98,352
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 1,082 1,725 2,816 5,623
    Health Service Fee 475 682 682 1,839
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 535 572 572 1,679
    Student Activity Fee    65 65 130
    Document Fee 105 0 0 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 35,181 36,028 37,119 108,328

    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 381 528 660 1,569
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,090 15,336 36,631

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 44,386 48,118 52,455 144,959

  • 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
    • $112 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. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or events selected by some students.

  •  

    Summer 2023

    		 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 13,836 13,836 13,836 41,508
    Health Service Fee 143 205 205 553
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 400 278 278 956
    Student Activity Fee  0 65 65 130
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 14,579 14,584 14,584 43,747

    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 381 528 660 1,569
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,090 15,336 36,631

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 23,784 26,674 29,920 80,378
  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 20,754 20,754 20,754 62,262
    Health Service Fee 143 205 205 553
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 400 278 278 956
    Student Activity Fee 0 65 65 130
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 21,497 21,502 21,502 64,501

    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 381 528 660 1,569
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,090 15,336 36,631

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 30,702 33,592 36,838 101,132
  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 27,672 27,672 27,672 83,016
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 0 1,725 2,816 4,541
    Health Service Fee 143 205 205 553
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 400 278 278 956
    Student Activity Fee  0 65 65 130
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 28,415 30,145 31,236 89,796

    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 381 528 660 1,569
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,090 15,336 36,631

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 37,620 42,235 46,572 126,427

  • 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 $112 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. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or events selected by some students.

  •   Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Total

    Direct Costs
    Tuition 30,096 30,095 30,095 90,286
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 1,082 1,725 2,816 5,623
    Health Service Fee 475 682 682 1,839
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 250 250 250 750
    University Services and Support Fee 535 572 572 1,679
    Student Activity Fee  60 65 65 190
    Document Fee 105 0 0 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 32,603 33,389 34,480 100,472

    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 381 528 660 1,569
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,205 12,090 15,336 36,631

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

    		 41,808 45,479 49,816 137,103

  • 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
    • $112 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. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or events selected by some students.

  •   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 some students) 1,082 1,725 2,816 5,623
    Health Service Fee 475 682 682 1,839
    SIPA Computer Lab Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 535 572 572 1,679
    Student Activity Fee - 65 65 130
    Document Fee 105 - - 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 7,397 36,028 37,119 80,544

    ESTIMATED INDIRECT COSTS
    Rent and Food 3,020 9,063 11,629 23,712
    Books 500 500 500 1,500
    Personal Expenses 679 1,999 2,547 5,225
    Transportation 254 528 660 1,442
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 4,453 12,090 15,336 31,879
     

    TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS

    		 11,850 48,118 52,455 112,423

    • 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
    • $112 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 (the summer course load in this program is part-time; fall and spring are full-time).  Additional tuition charges for enrollment in excess of 18 credits in the fall and spring semesters 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.