Columbia University

In 2022, Columbia University's tuition was $62,570 a year.

Tuition increased 5.25% in 2022–from $59,450 the previous year. On average, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students owe far less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. And, student loans can make thecost of college more manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Columbia University: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

Columbia University is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from New York as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending an insitution where you are eligible for in-state tuition can save significant money on the total cost of attending college. Be sure to check your state's criteria for in-state tuition. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other New York colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Columbia University?

Tuition at Columbia is the same for every student.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may qualify for private or Columbia-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Columbia:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideColumbia •Columbia-specific loans •Columbia-specific scholarships

---

Columbia University Room, Board, Fees, and More

---

Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Columbia.

House and Food Costs at Columbia

Room and board at Columbia costs $16,156 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that enables you to eat in the school dining facilities.

Board costs can depend on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Columbia

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer ways so that those with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Columbia

The total cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or will you need to use public transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your transportation budget.

The location of a college or university can impact the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in a city might be expensive, but there may be more buses, trains and affordable flights to actually get to school. The Columbia University campus is in a urban setting in New York, not far from New York City.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, be sure to consider personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

---

Financial Breakdown for Columbia University

---

Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending Columbia.

How Much Does Columbia Cost?

What will the cost of attending Columbia be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$62,570
Room and Board	$16,156
Other expenses	$2,306

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$83,986
Off-Campus	$65,524

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

---

Financial Aid at Columbia University

---

In 2022, 3,279 of the 6,716 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Columbia meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $67,818 a year. Around 19% of Columbia undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Columbia graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $26,531 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$13,878
Columbia-Specific Loans	$6,730
Private Loans	$47,952

Most Common Loans for Columbia Students
Federal Loans	17%
Institutional Loans	1%
Private loans	6%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Columbia financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Columbia University

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Columbia awarded 3,252 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $202.2 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $1.95 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Columbia University

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Columbia students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Columbia was $67,818 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Columbia seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$16,168
Off-Campus	$-2,294

Note: a negative number can indicate that a refund will be given to use toward other expenses such as housing, fees, and books. In such cases, be sure to reach out to the school directly for any clarification or questions.

What will attending Columbia really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Columbia's net cost calculator on their website.

Columbia University Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Columbia Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

---

Learn More About Columbia University

---

Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Columbia:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Columbia