Columbia University campus

Public Service Scholarship

At SIPA, public service isn’t just a career path, it’s a calling.

The Public Service Scholarship reflects our belief in the transformative power of public leadership. It supports students committed to advancing the public good across government, nonprofit, international, and cross-sector work. Our goal is to invest in principled, purpose-driven leaders and inspire a lifelong commitment to meaningful change.

 

Sections

  • Apply to one of the following programs:

  • A limited number of fellowships are awarded annually. You will be notified if you are selected at the time of admission.

    • In the Personal Information section of the application, select “U.S. citizen” as your citizenship status.
    • Indicate “yes” on the SIPA admissions application to be considered for financial aid.
    • Indicate “yes” that you wish to be considered for the Public Service Scholarship.
    • Required supplemental essay in the SIPA admissions application demonstrating public service motivation and career goals.
    • Letters of recommendation from current or former public sector supervisors or colleagues.
    • Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa (Columbia school code: 00270).
    • Application must be submitted by the priority fellowship consideration deadline for your program.
    • Award decisions will be made at the time of admission.

  • Up to 65% tuition scholarship support.

  • Second-year SIPA assistantships are available to students in the MIA, MPA, and MPA-DP programs, offering both professional development and paid employment during their studies. These positions provide valuable experience, promote collaboration with peers, and strengthen contributions to the SIPA community.

  • The fellowship recognizes students who embody the core values of public service integrity, commitment to community, and a drive to effect positive change and encourages them to continue advancing the public good in their careers after graduation.

Ready to take the next step in your public service journey?
Apply to SIPA and indicate your interest in the Public Service Fellowship within your application.

Sign up for admissions information session →

Questions, please email our team: SIPA Financial Aid at [email protected].
 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Columbia SIPA, Capstone Students

  • Yes. However, you must disclose any additional funding from a sponsoring source or third-party payer. This tuition-based scholarship is applied only to your tuition each term and cannot be combined with other awards that would result in a refund for indirect costs not charged by Columbia.

  • Yes.

  • Yes.

  • Yes.

  • Currently, the scholarship is only available to applicants with qualifying public sector experience in the United States. However, we hope to expand the program in future years to include international applicants.

  • Public sector employment includes working for the U.S. federal government, a state, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories or possessions, or local governments (city, county, parish, township, etc.), as well as military service and positions in public schools, colleges, or universities.

    The Public Service Scholarship can be combined with full-time public sector programs, such as AmeriCorps, Teach for America, and the Peace Corps—also qualify.

    • Must apply to the fall 2026 Master of International Affairs (MIA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), and Master of Public Administration in Development Practice (MPA-DP)
    • US citizen or permanent resident
    • Minimum of 3 years full-time professional experience in U.S. public service (e.g., federal, state, local government, military, or national service like AmeriCorps/Peace Corps).
    • Cumulative minimum GPA of 3.4
    • Selection based on leadership, academic excellence, and commitment to return to service post‑graduation.
    • If selected must pursue the MIA, MPA, MPA-DP program full-time.

  • Applicants must have completed three years of service by the time they submit their application.

  • Application must be submitted by the priority fellowship consideration deadline for your program.

  • In the Personal Information section of the application, make sure you select “U.S. citizen” as your citizenship status.

  • SIPA scholarship decisions are made at the time of admission, current SIPA students who began their graduate program prior to the entry terms listed below are not eligible.