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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 2024-2025 academic year. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or activities selected by some students.

  •   Fall 2024 Spring 2025 Total
    Direct Costs      
    Tuition 34,200 34,200 68,400
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 1,888 3,067 4,955
    Health Service Fee 694 694 1388
    SIPA Computer Lab Fee  (See Columbia's fee details here) 200 200 400
    University Services and Support Fee 602 602 1,204
    Student Activity Fee  70 70 140
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 37,654 38,833 76,487
    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs      
    Rent and Food 11,460 14,325 25,785
    Books and Supplies 625 625 1,250
    Personal Expenses 1,412 1,765 3,177
    Transportation 588 735 1,323
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 14,085 17,450 31,535
    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST 51,739 56,283 108,022

  • 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
    • $160 per semester International Students Fee
    • $115 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.

    • The figures presented herein are provisional estimates as of April 24, 2024, and are subject to revision as the University finalizes its schedule of tuition and fees for the 2024/2025 academic year.
    • 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 $2,858 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 2024-2025 academic year. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or activities selected by some students.

  •   Summer 2024 Fall 2024 Spring 2025 Total
    Direct Costs        
    Tuition 34,200 34,200 34,200 102,600
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 1,145 1,888 3,067 6,100
    Health Service Fee 490 694 694 1,878
    SIPA Computer Lab Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 535 602 602 1,739
    Student Activity Fee  0 70 70 140
    Document Fee 105 0 0 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 36,675 37,654 38,833 113,162
    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs        
    Rent and Food 7,458 11,460 14,325 33,243
    Books and Supplies 625 625 625 1,875
    Personal Expenses 1,059 1,412 1,765 4,236
    Transportation 441 588 735 1,764
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,583 14,085 17,450 41,118
    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST 46,258 51,739 56,283 154,280

  • 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
    • $160 per semester International Students Fee
    • $115 I-20 fee only during their first semester of enrollment

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

    • The figures presented herein are provisional estimates as of April 24, 2024, and are subject to revision as the University finalizes its schedule of tuition and fees for the 2024/2025 academic year.
    • 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 $2,858 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 2024-2025 academic year. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or activities selected by some students.

  •   Summer 2024 Fall 2024 Spring 2025 Total
    Direct Costs        
    Tuition 14,532 14,532 14,532 43,596
    Health Service Fee 147 208 208 563
    SIPA Computer Lab Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 400 292 292 984
    Student Activity Fee  0 70 70 140
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 15,279 15,302 15,302 45,883
    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs        
    Rent and Food 7,458 11,460 14,325 33,243
    Books and Supplies 625 625 625 1,875
    Personal Expenses 1,059 1,412 1,765 4,236
    Transportation 441 588 735 1,764
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,583 14,085 17,450 41,118
    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST 24,862 29,387 32,752 87,001
  •   Summer 2024 Fall 2024 Spring 2025 Total
    Direct Costs        
    Tuition 21,798 21,798 21,798 65,394
    Health Service Fee 147 208 208 563
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 400 292 292 984
    Student Activity Fee 0 70 70 140
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 22,545 22,568 22,568 67,681
    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs        
    Rent and Food 7,458 11,460 14,325 33,243
    Books and Supplies 625 625 625 1,875
    Personal Expenses 1,059 1,412 1,765 4,236
    Transportation 441 588 735 1,764
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,583 14,085 17,450 41,118
    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST 32,128 36,653 40,018 108,799
  •   Summer 2024 Fall 2024 Spring 2025 Total
    Direct Costs        
    Tuition 29,064 29,064 29,064 87,192
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 0 1,888 3,067 4,995
    Health Service Fee 147 208 208 563
    SIPA IT/AV Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 400 292 292 984
    Student Activity Fee  0 70 70 140
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 29,811 31,722 32,901 94,434
    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs        
    Rent and Food 7,458 11,460 14,325 33,243
    Books and Supplies 625 625 625 1,875
    Personal Expenses 1,059 1,412 1,765 4,236
    Transportation 441 588 735 1,764
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,583 14,085 17,450 41,118
    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST 39,394 45,807 50,351 135,552

  • EMPA students are charged tuition at a rate of $2,422 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 course loads.  Please note that some fees become applicable when students enroll for 12 credits (officially a full-time course load) 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 $160 International Student Fee each semester as well as an additional $115 I-20 fee during their first semester of enrollment at Columbia.

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

    • The figures presented herein are provisional estimates as of April 24, 2024, and are subject to revision as the University finalizes its schedule of tuition and fees for the 2024/2025 academic year.
    • 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 2024-2025 academic year. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or activities selected by some students.

  •   Summer 2024 Fall 2024 Spring 2025 Total
    Direct Costs        
    Tuition 31,390 31,390 31,390 94,170
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 1,145 1,888 3,067 6,100
    Health Service Fee 490 694 694 1,878
    SIPA Computer Lab Fee 250 250 250 750
    University Services and Support Fee 535 602 602 1,739
    Student Activity Fee  65 70 70 205
    Document Fee 105 0 0 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 33,980 34,894 36,073 104,947
    ESTIMATED Indirect Costs        
    Rent and Food 7,458 11,460 14,325 33,243
    Books and Supplies 625 625 625 1,875
    Personal Expenses 1,059 1,412 1,765 4,236
    Transportation 441 588 735 1,764
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 9,583 14,085 17,450 41,118
    TOTAL ESTIMATED COST 43,563 48,979 53,523 146,065

  • 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
    • $160 per semester International Students Fee
    • $115 I-20 fee only during their first semester of enrollment

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

    • The figures presented herein are provisional estimates as of April 24, 2024, and are subject to revision as the University finalizes its schedule of tuition and fees for the 2024/2025 academic year.
    • 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 $2,618 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 2024-2025 academic year. Other fees may be applicable to certain courses or activities selected by some students.

  •   Summer 2024 Fall 2024 Spring 2025 Total
    ESTIMATED DIRECT COSTS        
    Tuition 5,250 34,200 34,200 73,650
    Medical Insurance (may be waived by some students) 0 1,888 3,067 4955
    Health Service Fee 147 694 694 1,535
    SIPA Computer Lab Fee 200 200 200 600
    University Services and Support Fee 414 602 602 1,618
    Student Activity Fee - 70 70 140
    Document Fee 105 - - 105
    Total Direct Costs (charged by Columbia University) 6,116 37,654 38,833 82,603
    ESTIMATED INDIRECT COSTS        
    Rent and Food 5,730 11,460 14,325 31,515
    Books and Supplies 625 625 625 1,875
    Personal Expenses 706 1,412 1,765 3,883
    Transportation 294 588 735 1,617
    Total Estimated Indirect Costs 7,355 14,085 17,450 38,890
             
    TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS 13,471 51,739 56,283 121,493

    • 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
    • $160 per semester International Students Fee
    • $115 I-20 fee only during their first semester of enrollment
    • Total Estimated Cost of Attendance includes both direct and indirect costs.
    • The figures presented herein are provisional estimates as of April 24, 2024, and are subject to revision as the University finalizes its schedule of tuition and fees for the 2024/2025 academic year.
    • 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 $2,858 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.