August Entry:
- Applicants will be automatically considered for merit-based awards based on their application for admission. No additional applications are needed for consideration. Awards are highly competitive. The majority of named awards are matched after a student matriculates.
- If selected to interview applicants will have the option to complete a need-based application consisting of an institutional application, the CSS Profile, and copies of taxes or income statements. Awards are determined based on individual financial circumstances and available funding.
- Priority for awards is given to those students applying in rounds 1 and 2.
- Awarded institutional aid ranges from $25,000 per academic year to full tuition awards. Award notification will be sent along with admission decisions and will include a total sum per academic semester, and for the program.
- Funded students who matriculate will receive the breakdown of need/merit, if applicable, in the summer prior to beginning the MBA.
- Merit based awards are renewable from year 1 to year 2 if the student maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress and adheres to the Columbia Business School Honor Code.
- Need based awards are renewable if the student adheres to the Columbia Business School Honor Code.
- All outside awards and sponsorships must be reported to the financial aid office and could impact eligibility.
January Entry:
- Applicants will be automatically considered for merit-based awards based on their application for admission. No additional applications are needed for consideration. Awards are highly competitive.
- Admitted students will have the option to complete a need-based application consisting of an institutional application, the CSS Profile, and copies of taxes or income statements. Awards are determined based on individual financial circumstances and available funding.
- Awarded institutional aid ranges from $25,000-65,000 per academic year. Award notifications will be sent in October and will include a total sum per academic semester, and for the program.
- Funded students who matriculate will receive the breakdown of need/merit, if applicable, in the month prior to beginning the MBA.
- Merit based awards are renewable from year 1 to year 2 if the student maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress and adheres to the Columbia Business School Honor Code.
- Need based awards are renewable if the student adheres to the Columbia Business School Honor Code.
- All outside awards and sponsorships must be reported to the financial aid office and could impact eligibility.
- There is a limited number of merit-based awards based on the student’s application for admission.
- No additional applications are needed for consideration.
- Awarded students will be notified by the admissions office following their admission notification.
- Awards are renewable from year 1 to year 2 if the student maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress and adheres to the Columbia Business School Honor Code.
Columbia University Employee Benefits – EMBA Only
Columbia University offers differing levels of Tuition Benefits to its employees.
If you are an employee at Columbia University and are planning on attending the EMBA program, please note the following:
- Confirm your applicable benefits by reaching out to [email protected].
- You must submit the required forms after the first bill of the new term but before the end of the change of program period to [email protected]. Review the Academic Calendar to determine the last day of the change of program period.
- If you are planning on applying for student loans, make sure to indicate that you are an employee, and that you will be receiving a benefit in your loan application to assure your loans are processed for the desired amounts.
The estimated benefits for most enrolled employees in the EMBA program is equivalent to two free courses and a 35% discount on the remaining charges in each semester. If you have a different level benefit or plan on deviating from the standard enrollment plans, please reach out to our office for information on your cost. Also, please note that this benefit is for two courses, not six credits, so to maximize the benefit you would enroll in at least two 3 credits courses in any given semester.
Categories of Eligibility
Student Debt Solutions Employee Benefits
Columbia University Benefits has partnered with TIAA and Savi to provide all faculty and staff with assistance in navigating your student loan debt, repayment plans and federal student loan programs, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Savi is a social impact company dedicated to helping student loan borrowers better understand and manage their student loans. This benefit allows you to explore your options around two key aspects of your student loans - eligibility and loan forgiveness.
For more information, please visit the Human Resource's Debt Solutions Webpage
Savi Online Help Center
1-833-945-0654
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With the exception of the Dual MBA/Executive MS: Engineering and Applied Science and the Three-Year joint JD/MBA program, dual degree students pay the tuition and fees of, and are granted financial aid by, the school in which they are in residence. School-specific scholarships and fellowships awarded by Columbia Business School are not transferable. Dual degree students are eligible to apply for institutional funding from the Business School in their first term of business school residence. The application information will be made available to the student during the MBA admissions process. Please refer to the dual degree guide below for more financial aid information on specific programs.
Dual MBA/Executive MS: Engineering and Applied Science
Applicants to this program are eligible for the same institutional funding opportunities as full time MBA students. All students are considered for merit funding and are given access to the need-based applications when they are invited to interview. Funding decisions are sent out prior to deposit deadlines through the admitted student portal. All aid is processed by the CBS financial aid office throughout the length of the program.
Three-Year Joint JD/MBA
Applicants to this program apply for funding through the Law Schools’ financial aid office and follow their application process. Funding is renewable for the entirety of the program, including the terms in which the student is enrolled at the Business School. No additional applications are required, and no additional funding opportunities are available.
Other Dual Degree Programs
All other dual degree students are eligible to apply for institutional funding from the Business School in their first term of business school residence. The application information will be made available to the student during the MBA admissions process. School-specific scholarships and fellowships awarded by Columbia Business School, or another school at the University, are not transferable.
Most students who are awarded institutional funds will receive an unnamed total amount upon admission. Below is a sample list of named awards that may be matched after a student matriculates. No additional applications are required. Matching may occur throughout a student’s enrollment in the program.
Forté Fellowship
Admitted MBA students who have received any amount of funding from Columbia Business School will be invited by the Office of Admission to accept the Forté fellowship designation in the spring. This designation does not result in an increase in funding.
Ronald O. Perelman Family Scholarship
In 2021, Ronald O. Perelman P ’00, ’24 created the Perelman Family Scholarship Fund to offer full tuition awards for students with the aim of expanding a more diverse generation of business leaders.
Robert F. Smith '94 Scholarship
The Robert F. Smith ’94 Scholarship Fund offers financial support to CBS students for their intellect, diverse perspectives, professional promise, and potential to contribute to the MBA student experience. Robert F. Smith '94, founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, is known for his industry leadership and commitment to the community and is the recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Leadership in Business Award and the Columbia BBSA Distinguished Alumni Award.
Meyer Feldberg Distinguished Fellowship Program
In honor of Professor Meyer Feldberg’s ’65 15-year tenure as dean of Columbia Business School, several alumni and supporters of the School established a fellowship program to uphold his continued tradition of leadership. Each year, the Fellowship is given to select incoming students who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential, as well as academic excellence. Selection as a Feldberg Fellow provides full tuition and lifelong membership in a distinguished group of similarly driven students, alumni, and donors. Meet the sponsors of the Meyer Feldberg Distinguished Fellowship Program.
R. C. Kopf Global Fellowships
R. C. Kopf endowed the first R. C. Kopf Fellowship and the R. C. Kopf Professorship in International Marketing in 1980. A 1927 graduate of Columbia Business School, Kopf credited the School’s international business focus for much of his professional success, including the establishment of the Kobrand Corporation. Today, Kopf’s children and their spouses carry his commitment to enhancing the international character of Columbia Business School. Thanks to their generosity, the School offers several Kopf Global Fellowships each year. The Kopf Global Fellows are diverse and highly accomplished, not only in the academic realm but also in the breadth of personal, professional and highly international experience that they contribute to the School’s community
Jerome A. Chazen Institute:
The Chazen Institute Travel Fund provides financial assistance to students participating in Chazen global travel programs and are awarded based on financial need. Funds can be used toward the following Chazen Institute programming: Global Study Tours, Global Immersion Programs, Global Blockweek classes, Bridging the American Divides and the MBA Exchange Program.
Tamer Institute:
The Tamer Fund for Social Ventures (TFSV) provides seed grants to nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid early-stage Columbia University-affiliated social and environmental ventures.
Eugene Lang Center:
The Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund ("The Lang Fund") fosters an entrepreneurial environment at Columbia Business School by providing early-stage investing opportunities to qualifying student and alumni ventures. It also allows the School to share in the success of funded ventures through negotiated equity or other participation.
Summer Internship Fellowships
Summer Fellowship Program
The Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center provides a summer stipend to enable MBA students to contribute management expertise to growing startup organizations over the summer. Full application instructions and eligibility requirements can be found on their website.
Summer Start-Up Track
Through tailored advisory support, a network of peers, and programming with industry leaders, the Summer Startup Track fosters a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship for rising second-year Columbia Business School students who are dedicated to advancing their ventures. Students participating in the Summer Startup Track are eligible to apply for a grant at the end of the program.
Social and Environmental Summer Fellowship Program
The Social and Environmental Summer Fellowship Program provides funds for students who wish to work full time over the summer with eligible organizations including: nonprofit 501(c)(3) (or its equivalent outside the U.S.), NGOs, public sector organizations, for-profit social ventures, or social venture capital firms with a clearly defined social or environmental purpose incorporated into the core reason for operation. January-term MBA students are also eligible to apply for mini-internships at the end of August. Full application instructions and eligibility requirements can be found online.
Most institutional funding is offered to students at the time of admission, and is renewable for year 2 as long as students are making Satisfactory Academic Progress and maintain the Honor Code. Below is information on the limited opportunities available to full-time MBA students to apply for their second year organized by timeline.
March of Year One
The application for need-based aid will become available to students in the full-time MBA and MBAxMS programs. Students who did not apply for need-based aid for year one, were not awarded need-based aid for year one, or experienced significant changes in financial circumstances will have the opportunity to apply for year two. An email will be sent when the application process opens, with the application due in April, and notifications going out by the end of May. Awards range from $25,000-$50,000, and, if awarded, will be split between the fall and spring semesters of year two.
Summer Following Year One
The Benjamin Michaelson Prize was established in 1985 by Catherine S. Michaelson ’78 in honor of her father. The prize recognizes outstanding academic achievement and strong leadership in student activities. The Michaelson Prize recipient is chosen by committee and notified – there is no application process. This prize is given in the form of a check and is taxable income.
September of Year Two
The Second Year Fellows application will become available by the end of September. Continuing students will be notified via email by the Second Year Fellows committee. The application deadline is typically mid-October and will be confirmed in the email. Decisions will go out to applicants by the end of November. There are approximately 50 awards of $5,000 given to students with top academic performances in year one and who demonstrated involvement and contributions to the CBS community. This award is available to all continuing students, including duals, in the full-time MBA and MBAxMS programs. If awarded, the funds will be applied to the final semester bill. There are a handful of students who receive the honor in name only based on their current funding levels and enrollment status. Additionally, some applicants may be matched to funds designated for second year students and award amounts range based on the funds available for a given year.