You only have to do three things to be considered for all scholarships available to incoming undergraduate students.
We offer annually-renewable scholarships based on academic merit, financial need, and artistic talent. Incoming freshmen and transfer students should take the following steps to be considered for all Columbia scholarships:
- For scholarships based on academic merit: Apply to the college. That's it. That's all you have to do. Every admitted student is automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.
- For scholarships based on financial need: Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using Columbia’s school code (001665). Every eligible student who submits a FAFSA will receive an annually-renewable scholarship of at least $1,000. If you are not eligible to submit the FAFSA, please speak to an admissions representative about possible alternatives.
- For talent-based scholarships: Submit a digital portfolio or audition that demonstrates your best creative work.
Are you a current Columbia student?
Already have a Columbia scholarship? You must review the terms of your scholarship and take steps to secure your funding. (You can search the Scholarship Finder for your terms.)
Additionally, Columbia offers many scholarships for current students, and we encourage you to apply to as many as you can. (Be sure to select 'Continuing Student' when you search the Scholarship Finder.) You can apply via your student portal.
Are you a high school freshman, sophomore, or junior?
You can get early scholarships from Columbia now! RaiseMe lets you earn scholarships for achievements like grades, community service, test scores, leadership roles, and more, so you'll know how much financial aid you can depend on before you even apply. Find out more and sign up for your account on Columbia's RaiseMe site.