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Columbia University Match Scholarship

For high school students applying to the National College Match in 2007

Columbia is committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted first-year students. We partner with each family to provide need-based financial assistance for the four years of undergraduate education at Columbia.

Columbia evaluates applications and family circumstances individually based on several factors including total family income, family size, and number of family members in college. The family's assets (savings, investments, additional properties) will be factored in, however the evaluation of need is based primarily on the family's earned income. Columbia also takes into consideration any extenuating circumstances such as financial support of family members living outside the household, high medical costs not covered by insurance, other educational debt, etc.

The QuestBridge College Match Scholarship will look like the package below. Students from families with total earned income less than $50,000 per year and straightforward financial situations who are admitted through early or regular decision will be offered similar financial aid packages. The difference for students from families with slightly higher income or with significant assets would be an increased family contribution based on the financial situation.


Scholarship Details

Glossary of terms appearing in scholarship package details


Annual Cost of Attendance
Tuition $35,516
Room & Board $9,938
Books & Supplies $1,000
Travel $0
Personal $1,100
Other Fees $1,706
Total $49,260
 
How Costs Are Covered (Annually)
Grants $45,185
Federal Work-Study $2,475
Parental Contribution $0
Student Summer Work Contribution $1,600
Student Savings 25%
Student Loan $0
Total $49,260

Outside Scholarships
Outside scholarships may be used to reduce the $2475 work-study contribution, cover the cost of purchasing a computer (up to $1,500), and possibly reduce the summer work contribution (determined on a case-by-case basis). Scholarships in excess of these amounts will be used to reduce the Columbia grant dollar for dollar.

Health Insurance
Columbia requires all students to have health insurance, either through a parent or another plan. If the QuestBridge College Match student is not adequately covered by a parental plan while in New York (or abroad), the Columbia grant will be increased to pay for the $1,442 Columbia student health insurance.

Other Details
A travel allowance will be determined by Columbia based on student location. The Columbia grant will be increased to account for this.

Students may choose to replace their work-study eligibility or their student earnings/savings contribution with a loan.

Students are expected to contribute 25% of their personal savings/investments toward their annual college expenses. This will decrease the amount of Columbia Grant dollar for dollar.

The expected Student Summer Work Contribution will increase every year, as follows:
First year: $1,600
Second year: $1,800
Third year: $2,000
Fourth year: $2,100

Personal expenses and books will be covered by the student work-study earnings (paid biweekly, directly to the student).