Many students obtain corporate financial sponsorship, which ranges from partial to full support. For purposes of financial aid, sponsorship is defined as payments that your organization makes directly to you or the University to cover your tuition and related expenses while you are enrolled at Columbia Business School. Many organizations also offer reimbursement in the form of payment to you or toward your educational debt after completing the degree. Sponsorship and reimbursment may also require a commitment to return to the organization for some period of time after completing your degree.
Sponsorship is considered financial aid and is included when determining your eligibility to receive loans and other aid up to the financial aid budget. This is the case in any situation where the sponsorship you receive is paid directly to you or the University - even if the funds are in the form of a forgiveable loan which must be repaid if you leave the organization. In most cases, the conversion of your sponsorship to a loan will not result in an increase to your eligibility for other aid during the year and your borrowing will be limited. Students who receive sponsorship and are considering leaving the company providing the sponsorship, are strongly encouraged to be in contact with Financial Aid to fully understand the implications of this change on their eligibility for any alternate funding sources.