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Funding your Education
The SIPA Financial Aid Office is dedicated to helping its students explore all available means to finance their education. We provide access to federal, institutional, and private funding. Our financial aid staff is dedicated to working with you to assist throughout the application process and help you reach your goals. Students are encouraged to create a financing plan by the time the enrollment decision is made, and that plan should cover the duration of the academic program. Students’ plans typically include a combination of their own and/or family resources, student loans, and whatever funding they may qualify for from SIPA or external agencies. Financial aid is not available for expenses incurred during summers in which a student is not enrolled in classes.
Funding
SIPA and Columbia University Funding
Learn about the types of financial aid in the form of scholarships, fellowships and assistantships available to SIPA students, both from SIPA directly and other funds made available University-wide.
Financial Aid Deadlines
Fellowship Consideration: In order to receive funding consideration you must both apply before the fellowship deadline (and ensure all of your materials are submitted as well), and mark that you would like to be considered for funding in your application.
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Fellowship Consideration Final Application Deadline MIA October 15 October 15 MPA October 15 October 15 EMPA November 15 November 15 -
Fellowship Consideration Final Application Deadline MIA (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MIA December 20 February 5 MPA (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MPA December 20 February 5 MPA-DP (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MPA-DP December 20 February 5 EMPA TBA TBA PhD in Sustainable Development* December 12 December 12 GPPN** February 15 February 15 -
Fellowship Consideration Final Application Deadline MPA-EPM (Early Action & JJ/WBGSP) November 1 November 1 MPA-EPM December 20 February 15 MPA-ESP (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MPA-ESP January 15 February 15 MPA-GL (Early Action) November 1 November 1 MPA-GL December 20 March 1
Financial Aid Timeline
September
Admissions application opens (indicate financial aid request on application)
October
FAFSA is available for completion (U.S. citizens and permanent residents)
December
Priority Fellowship Consideration Deadline (part of the admissions application) - December 20, 2025
Mid-March
Admission and financial aid decisions released via slate student portal
April to early May
Student admission and financial aid offer responses due
Financial Aid News
Update on Federal Student Loan Changes and Eligibility Requirements
Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in July 2025, introducing changes to federal student loans that take effect on July 1, 2026 and do not impact borrowing for the 2025–2026 academic year. Click here for more information and private loan options. Students may also contact the SIPA Office of Financial Aid with any questions.
Scholarship News
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The Israeli Policy Fellowship:
The Israeli Policy Fellowship (IPF) provides Israeli students who have received a formal offer of admission to master’s programs at SIPA Columbia with a tuition subsidy of $40,000 per year, along with access to a strong peer community and mentorship from Israeli alumni.
To be eligible for the fellowship, candidates must be Israeli citizens, have received an admission letter from SIPA Columbia, and demonstrate a proven record of public service commitment and leadership.
To learn more or apply, please visit the IPF website at israelipolicyfellowship.com or contact [email protected].
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I-House Fellowships
For currently enrolled and incoming international graduate students who may be interested in exploring I-House as a housing option for the upcoming 2026/27 academic year, we are excited to announce two Entrepreneurial Fellowship opportunities that will not only provide mentorship and hands-on, real world experience to aspiring entrepreneurs, but fully funded room and board for the academic year:
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Gotz Mauser - The Götz Mäuser ’91 Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program at International House is a transformative program designed to empower next-generation changemakers to lead with empathy, resilience, integrity, and cultural intelligence. It is open to four rising entrepreneurs, with priority given to candidates from United Nations-designated emerging and developing countries (EDCs) and low-income developing countries (LIDCs). Click HERE for more information.
- S & G - The Sunitha ’05 & Gautam ’05 (S&G) Entrepreneurship Fellowship at International House is intended to support individuals who are driven not only by ideas but by purpose, and who want to make a meaningful difference in communities and the lives of others. International graduate students studying in the New York City area with a strong interest in entrepreneurship who are interested in remaining in the United States after graduation to launch a business or social venture are encouraged to apply. Click HERE for more information.
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UJA-Federation of New York Scholarships
The Hebrew Free Loan Society administers three scholarship programs for the UJA-Federation of New York. The three UJA scholarship applications will be available for submission starting April 1st, 2026.
- Scholarships will be for the 2026/2027 academic year (August 2026 – July 2027).
- The deadline to submit your 2026/2027 application will be 11:59PM May 31, 2026.
- Graduate students applying for the Rose Biller Scholarship may also complete a FAFSA to demonstrate need, however this is optional for graduate or for international students applying for the Nerken or Benin Scholarships.
For more information and to begin your application, please click HERE.
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IGRAD
Columbia has partnered with iGRAD (an award-winning financial literacy and wellness platform), which has a scholarship search engine featuring hand-curated, quality scholarships.
FAFSA News
- 2026–2027 FAFSA® Form Now Available
- FAFSA guide 2026-27: Everything students and families need to know about completing the form this year
Federal Loans
Financial Aid Resources
Contact Us
Financial Aid Office
Columbia University
School of International and Public Affairs
514 West 113th Street
New York, NY 10025
[email protected]
Brandon Smith, Director of Financial Aid
Lakhbir Singh, Associate Director of Financial Aid
Quintin Sipp, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
NOTE: As a matter of your convenience, privacy and safety, we created online office hours, and ask students to make this the primary means of meeting with Financial Aid staff.