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Prospective Students

Other Financial Aid

To be considered for nondepartmental financial aid (federal Stafford loans, federal unsubsidized Stafford loans, federal Perkins loans, federal work-study employment, and New York State TAP grants), you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident admitted as at least a half-time student to a degree program in The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. If you are taking courses but are not yet admitted into a degree program, then you do not qualify for federal or state aid. In addition, to preserve your aid eligibility, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress, as defined in The Graduate Programs section.

To apply for funds, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, a Graduate Engineering Financial Aid Application, and an Express TAP application (if you are a New York State resident). Loan borrowers must complete a Columbia University Loan Entrance Interview. The information supplied on the FAFSA form is used to determine your eligibility for federal aid. The Enrollment Status Sheet provides the University with information about your planned program, including the number of courses in which you plan to enroll. The Express TAP application acts as your request for New York State Tuition Assistance Program funds.

Columbia University prefers that the FAFSA be filed after January 1, but preferably before May 1, for fall enrollment. Students must give permission for the application data to be sent to Columbia University by entering The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science Title IV school code (E00120) on the FAFSA form.

It is your responsibility to supply accurate and complete information on the FAFSA and to notify the Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing immediately of any changes in your enrollment plans, housing status, or financial situation, including information about any institutional or outside scholarships you will be receiving.

The Supplementary Application for Federal Aid and Private Loans is available from the Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing, or can be downloaded from their Web site located at: http://engineering.columbia.edu/pdf-files/gradengfinaid09-10.pdf.

Determination of your financial need is based upon the number of courses for which you register. If you enroll in fewer courses than you initially reported on your Columbia University Enrollment Status Sheet, your financial aid may be reduced.

University-administered federal and state awards are not automatically renewed each year. Continuing graduate students must submit a Renewal FAFSA each year by the Columbia University deadline. Renewal depends on the annual reevaluation of your need, the availability of funds, and satisfactory progress toward the completion of your degree requirements.

Legal residents of New York State who are enrolled in a full-time degree program of at least 12 points a term, or the equivalent, may be eligible for awards under this program. To apply for TAP, list the Columbia University school code (E00120) on the FAFSA form. When the FAFSA has been processed, an Express TAP application will be mailed to you. Review the information, change any incorrect items, sign the form, and return it to the address indicated.

Various Department of Veterans Affairs programs provide educational benefits for sons, daughters, and spouses of deceased or permanently disabled veterans as well as for veterans and in-service personnel who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces after January 1, 1955. In these programs the amount of benefits varies. Under most programs the student pays tuition and fees at the time of registration but receives a monthly allowance from Veterans Affairs.

Since interpretation of regulations governing veterans’ benefits is subject to change, veterans and their dependents should keep in touch with the Department of Veterans Affairs. For additional information and assistance in completing the necessary forms, contact 1-800-827-1000, or consult their Web site.

Federal Subsidized Stafford Student Loan Program
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

Detailed information regarding the above loan programs may be found on the Student Financial Services Web site.

Columbia University has developed the Comprehensive Educational Financing Plan to assist students and parents with their financing needs. The plan is a combination of federal, institutional, and private sources of funds that we hope will meet the needs of our diverse student population, providing options to part-time, full-time, and international students. The suggested lenders listed in this plan were selected as a result of a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process conducted in 2005. The criteria for selection included competitive rates and terms, supportive customer service, and a flexible application and fund disbursement process.

The Columbia Comprehensive Educational Financing Plan offers payment plans, loan programs, and tuition insurance options as well as limited loan options for international students. Information regarding the Columbia Comprehensive Educational Financing Plan may be obtained through the Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing.

Several private loan programs are available to both U.S. citizens and international students attending Columbia University. These loans were created to supplement federal and institutional aid. These loan programs require that you (the applicant) have a good credit standing and not be in default on any outstanding loans. International students may be eligible for a private loan with the assistance of a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident. In some cases, as an international student, you must have a valid U.S. Social Security number. Some international students from specific countries may qualify for a private loan without need for a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Contact the financial aid office for more details on this loan program.