Funding Options

The Mailman School of Public Health Financing Plan is designed to offer students and families a single, simple approach to meeting the cost of attending Columbia. The Plan is a combination of federal, institutional, and private sources of funds that we hope will meet the diverse needs of our students, providing options for part-time, full-time, and international students and families.

The types of assistance available to students may include one or more of the following:

Student Loans

Columbia University students can choose from among a wide range of financial assistance options that include federal, state, institutional, and private sources of funds. To learn more about obtaining financial assistance as well as detailed information on each of these funding sources, please see the University's overview on Graduate Financial Aid. (*Learn about the transition to the Direct Loan Program.)

Students applying for the Graduate Plus Loan should log-in to complete the required forms and manage their accounts.

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants

Scholarships, fellowships, and grants man be awarded based on need and/or merit and can vary in amounts and availability by school. See full list.

Student employment opportunities

Mailman School students may have access to school-related employment through one or more of the following:

  1. Work-Study: Students certified by the Financial Aid Office as eligible for federally funded work-study can choose from a variety of part-time employment positions. Jobs are available in many offices throughout the University. Learn more about work study at Columbia.
  2. Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA): Departments offer graduate research assistant positions on a limited basis. Students gain valuable experience working part-time on faculty-run research projects and receive a stipend and/or tuition assistance.
  3. Teaching Assistantship (TA): Some departments have teaching assistantship positions available to a limited number of students who have substantial preparation in their area of study. TAs provide part-time assistance to faculty members in instruction, grading, and/or course administration. Students receive a stipend and/or tuition assistance.

Outside Funding Options & Scholarship Resources

Learn about additional funding options outside the University.

International Students

International students pursuing a master’s degree are eligible for neither institutional funds administered by the Financial Aid Office (e.g. General Income Scholarship), nor federal programs. At the doctoral level, international students may be eligible to receive funding from their academic department. Students must contact their respective academic department directly to review these funding opportunities.

All international students are advised to seek financial aid through their country of citizenship, private foundations, and international agencies such as the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and the Rotary International.

See attached pdf for programs providing loans and fellowships to international students and a list of support offered by country.

Private Loans

In addition to contacting the above-mentioned organizations, international students can also access the University’s financial services pages which provide information on applying for private educational loans.

(Note: the maximum amount that can be requested through any private educational loan is the cost of attendance for one school year (tuition, room/board, personal expenses, etc.) minus any aid that may have been awarded by the academic department.)

The Financial Aid Office determines the cost of attendance once the number of credits to be taken per semester is known. Tuition rates and other fees are determined each year during the summer.

Full-time status at the Mailman School of Public Health consists of at least 12 credits per semester. International students must be enrolled full-time. If you are already admitted and are seeking information on cost of attendance for purposes of applying for a student visa, be advised that you must contact the Office of International Students and Scholars Office.

Stipends

Learn more about stipends for domestic and international students.

Listen to our Financial Aid Virtual Information Session for more information. Please feel free to contact us for any additional information. We can be reached at 212-305-4113, or by email.