Columbia Scholarships for International Students

I'm an international student dreaming about Columbia University. What scholarship opportunities does Columbia offer to non-US students? Would be great to know how realistic this dream is, financially speaking.

Columbia University is one of the few schools in the U.S. that adopts a need-blind admission policy for all applicants, including international students, meaning that they don't consider your financial need during the admissions process. This policy, along with its commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated need, makes it an attractive option for international students needing financial aid.

Columbia boasts generous financial aid packages and does not package loans as part of your financial aid award—all demonstrated need is met through grants and work-study. This is extremely beneficial for you, as it means you won't be required to pay back any part of your financial aid package.

Unfortunately, Columbia does not offer merit-based scholarships; their aid is strictly need-based. To demonstrate need, you would fill out a financial aid application, submit tax documents, and potentially some other financial documentation. The aid package is determined using these inputs.

Please note that even though Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated need, please be aware that there is still often a gap between what the school calculates your family contribution should be and what your family can actually afford to contribute. It would be helpful for you to have a conversation with your family about what they would feasibly able to contribute, and use Columbia's financial aid calculator to estimate potential aid.

Hopefully, this information helps give you an idea of financial affordability if you decide to apply to Columbia. Remember to also consider other costs like flights, additional personal expenses, etc. Will pursuing the opportunity at Columbia stretch your family finances in a way that's uncomfortable, or is it manageable? Financial planning and understanding are key parts of the college process, and this exercise is a great start for you.