Financial Aid and Scholarships
Most students at the School of Professional Studies use a combination of savings, scholarships, loans, outside grants, sponsors, or employer tuition benefits to cover the cost of attendance.
It is recommended that you start planning your tuition financing as soon as possible and review additional information provided by the Office of Student Financial Planning. We encourage you to contact the Student Financial Planning team with any questions.
External Funding Opportunities
SPS Student Support has created a list of tailored scholarships and external funding opportunities that SPS students may be eligible to apply for in order to financially support their studies. This list was carefully curated, taking into account the diverse experiences and interests of our student community. We hope it proves valuable in your studies.
Students can also search for scholarships using iGrad, the University's free financial literacy platform provided at no cost to Columbia students both now and after attending. iGrad provides students with interactive financial education and wellness tools, scholarship information, student loan management resources, webinars, videos, and more. If you have a Columbia University email address, go to Columbia.iGrad.com to set up your account.
Career-Specific Scholarships
Note: SPS does not endorse or sponsor any of these organizations. For more information and/or questions, please visit the specific scholarship website.
The (ISC)2 Graduate Scholarship program offers from $1,000 to $5,000 per graduate student who is pursuing a degree with a focus on cybersecurity or information assurance. Applicants must be eligible to begin the first or second year of a master’s degree program or pursue doctoral studies and have a minimum 3.5 GPA.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship seeks to increase communication skills in student scientists. From grant writing to interaction with their community, these skills will benefit a student’s career path and increase public understanding of science and technology. Students must be enrolled as a college or university student (graduate, doctoral, or upper-level undergraduates) or within one year of a completed degree - in the physical, biological, geological, health, engineering, computer, or social sciences or mathematics.
The Bellevue chapter of AFWA awards scholarships annually to help students advance their accounting and finance education. Full or part-time students in the Puget Sound Region attending colleges, universities, vocational or technical schools and pursuing a degree in accounting and finance or persons actively pursuing their CPA or CMA designations may apply. Applicants must have taken basic courses in accounting to show an aptitude and intention in pursuing an accounting or finance career.
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to seven students studying to become biomedical equipment technicians, or health technology specific engineering, including clinical engineering. Of the seven scholarships, one scholarship will be awarded to an individual studying to become a health systems engineer. Applicants must be entering or current full-time college students seeking a career in the healthcare technology profession at an accredited college or university.
The BWH Group offers a scholarship for women who are pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree and are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM fields) during the current school year. Applicants must write an essay between 500-800 words on either of the following topics: Tell us about your favorite app and what you like about it, and tell us about a time an app played a significant role in improving your day.
Certificate Programs
Note: SPS does not endorse or sponsor any of these organizations. For more information and/or questions, please visit the specific scholarship website.
CAGNY Scholarship
The objective of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater New York (CAGNY) Scholarship is to further students’ interest in the property/casualty actuarial profession and to encourage the pursuit of the Casualty Actuarial Society designations. An applicant must have demonstrated high scholastic achievement and strong interest in pursuing an actuarial career in the property/casualty insurance industry.
CAS Trust Scholarship Program
The objective of the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) Trust Scholarship is to further students’ interest in the property/casualty actuarial profession and to encourage the pursuit of the CAS designations. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of individual merit.
Actuary – A Career Change: Elizabeth M. Mauro Reimbursement Program
The Actuary – A Career Change: Elizabeth M. Mauro Reimbursement Program recognizes the limited resources available to career changers aspiring to transition into the actuarial profession.
International Association of Black Actuaries Scholarship
The IABA Scholarship Program provides scholarships at the undergraduate and graduate level for black students who are interested in pursuing actuarial careers.
Hickman Scholars Program
The Society of Actuaries James C. Hickman Scholar program was established to increase the number of academic actuaries who hold a PhD and an actuarial designation, and who intend to pursue academic careers in the United States or Canada.
IHS Humane Studies Fellowship Program
Worth up to $15,000, the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) Humane Studies Fellowship is a non-residency program supporting PhD candidates at accredited U.S. institutions who have research interests in liberty-advancing fields. Past dissertation topics have included market-based environmental policy, patient autonomy in bioethics, and legal property rights.
NIH Department of Bioethics Fellowships
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center’s Department of Bioethics awards a limited number of pre-doctoral fellowships for students at accredited U.S. institutions who will obtain a PhD, JD, or MD degree.
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship Program
McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the long-time Johnson & Johnson medical products subsidiary, founded the Tylenol Future Care Scholarship Program to grant 30 awards for $5,000, 10 prizes for $10,000, and up to 20 scholarships for $2,500 each summer. Interested undergrad or graduate students from the U.S. or Puerto Rico could receive funding for health-related education, including bioethics majors.
Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund
Administered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship gifts full tuition with an $18,000 stipend yearly to honor the Armenian philanthropist who actively supported research at Rockefeller University. Graduate students of any national descent who hold U.S. citizenship could qualify to fund training in the social or natural sciences, including medicine and bioethics.
Mary A. Mades Volunteer Scholarship Award
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the Boston-based Level I trauma center with nearly $200 million in annual research funding, grants the Mary A. Mades Volunteer Scholarship Award through the Special Funds Office. The $1,500, service-based scholarship is reserved for outstanding volunteers with a minimum of 125 hours who are pursuing healthcare degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. Accepted majors range from nursing and speech therapy to bioethics and pharmacology.
Susan R. Meisinger Fellowship for Graduate Study in HR
The Susan R. Meisinger Fellowship for Graduate Study in HR is a premier source of funding for first-time master’s degree students in Human Resources. The award honors former SHRM President & CEO, Susan R. Meisinger, SPHR. The fellowship is designed to support master’s degree students who are either members of SHRM or certified HR professionals. Sponsored jointly by SHRM and the SHRM Foundation, the fellowship supports those who want to leverage significant past contributions to the HR management field and who plan to continue contributing to the profession by earning a master’s degree in HR.
General Scholarships for Students in Business
Please find a list of available external scholarships for students interested the in the business sector.
The Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award
Eligible applicants for Hertz Fellowships must be students of the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America, and who are willing to morally commit to make their skills available to the United States in time of national emergency (see our Moral Commitment section).
HR Payroll Systems Student Scholarship
The Human Resources (HR) Payroll Systems funds one $1,000 scholarship each year to financially bolster college students earning bachelor’s or master’s degrees in human resources, business, labor relations, or organizational development.
The Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award
Eligible applicants for Hertz Fellowships must be students of the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America, and who are willing to morally commit to make their skills available to the United States in time of national emergency (see our Moral Commitment section).
The Earth Institute at Columbia University Scholarship Directory
Society for Classical Studies Awards & Scholarships
Please find a list of available external scholarships for students interested the in the classics sector.
General Scholarships for Students in International Relations or a Related Field
AMS Graduate Fellowships
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) Fellowship Program is a source of unique opportunities for outstanding students looking to pursue graduate education in the atmospheric or related sciences.
EPOC Environmental Scholarship Fund
The Environmental Professionals Organization of Connecticut (EPOC) assists in the education of individuals planning a career in the environmental industry.
URMIA Educational Scholarship Program
The University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA) recognizes its need to promote succession planning in filling the career opportunities for the upcoming generations of higher education risk management professionals. To help accomplish this goal, URMIA provides opportunities to full-time degree seeking students who are in good standing and who are rising juniors, seniors, or masters/doctorate candidates and who desire to strengthen their skills and knowledge via an educational scholarship fund. The Fund awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in risk management, with a preference given for students demonstrating a desire to enter a career of higher education risk management.
AICP Scholarship Program
The Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP) serves the insurance compliance community by promoting relationships, exchanging information, and providing learning opportunities within a dynamic regulatory environment. The AICP is dedicated to promoting regulatory competence and awareness for the improvement of regulatory compliance within the insurance industry.
Spencer Grants Scholarships
Spencer grants scholarships to full-time students pursuing a master’s degree or pre-dissertation PhD students. The Spencer Educational Foundation awards $10,000 General Fund Graduate/Pre-dissertation Ph.D. Scholarships.
Dr. Harold Kerzner Scholarships
This is an endowed scholarship fund sponsored by the International Institute for Learning, Inc. The Dr. Harold Kerzner Scholarships are four academic scholarships valued at up to US $7,500 with each of the four scholarships being open to all students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in Project Management or related fields of study from accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities. The four scholarships are awarded annually.
The Griffith Foundation Risk Management and Insurance Scholarships
In an effort to inspire college and university students to study and pursue careers in risk management and insurance, The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation oversees multiple scholarship opportunities throughout the year. By offering scholarship opportunities, selected students are not only encouraged to take risk management and insurance courses, but they can also receive the financial support they need to complete their degrees.
Mary A. Mades Volunteer Scholarship Award
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the Boston-based Level I trauma center with nearly $200 million in annual research funding, grants the Mary A. Mades Volunteer Scholarship Award through the Special Funds Office. The $1,500, service-based scholarship is reserved for outstanding volunteers with a minimum of 125 hours who are pursuing healthcare degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. Accepted majors range from nursing and speech therapy to bioethics and pharmacology.
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship Program
McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the long-time Johnson & Johnson medical products subsidiary, founded the Tylenol Future Care Scholarship Program to grant 30 awards for $5,000, 10 prizes for $10,000, and up to 20 scholarships for $2,500 each summer. Recipients are chosen based on GPA, medical experience, community involvement, and their personal essays.
General Scholarships for Students Interested in Human Rights
Please find a list of available external scholarships for students interested in the human rights sector.
Post-Graduate Fellows in Narrative Medicine
Mission: 1) To advance initiatives in the new field of Narrative Medicine and 2) To contribute to the development of Narrative Medicine graduates as leaders, teachers, and scholars and to create a strong corps of alumnae/alumni with close professional connections to the Program in Narrative Medicine and Columbia University. Funding: Fellows will be supported for three to twelve months within the range of $500- $4,000.
Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund
Administered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship gifts full tuition with an $18,000 stipend yearly to honor the Armenian philanthropist who actively supported research at Rockefeller University. Graduate students of any national descent who hold U.S. citizenship could qualify to fund training in the social or natural sciences, including medicine and bioethics.
Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Application
Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program is open to full time undergraduate and graduate students studying at an accredited two or four year college or graduate school in the U.S. for the 2019/2020 school year. Students must be focusing studies on sustainable and regenerative agriculture. International students may apply if they are attending a U.S. school.
Careers at the Peter G. Peterson Foundation: Summer Research Internship
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation is working to secure a healthy, growing economy by addressing America’s long- term fiscal challenges. The Foundation partners with leading policy experts, elected officials and the public to build support for solutions to put America on a sustainable fiscal path. As a non-partisan organization, the Foundation engages in grant-making, partnerships, and research to educate and involve Americans from a variety of perspectives. PGPF offers an 8-12 week, full-time summer internship in its New York office. The internship is intended for students enrolled in graduate programs, though undergraduates may apply.
Dr. Harold Kerzner Scholarships
This is an endowed scholarship fund sponsored by the International Institute for Learning, Inc. The Dr. Harold Kerzner Scholarships are four academic scholarships valued at up to US $7,500 with each of the four scholarships being open to all students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in Project Management or related fields of study from accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities. The four scholarships are awarded annually.
The Earth Institute at Columbia University Scholarship Directory
Scholarships for Women Studying Psychology
General Scholars for Students Studying Business and Finance
Please find a list of available external scholarships for students interested in the finance sector.
Sustainability Analytics & Finance Eckenfelder Scholarship
Dr. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr.'s career as an environmental trailblazer spanned more than 50 years, during which time he trained thousands of graduate students and professionals in the science and art of industrial wastewater treatment. To honor his dedication to the environmental industry, we offer a $5,000 Dr. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr. Scholarship to support students who are interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession.
AWWA Scholarships
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) offers various scholarships and fellowship opportunities to students in pursuit of advanced education in the field of water supply and treatment.
The Earth Institute at Columbia University Scholarship Directory
Please find a list of available external scholarships for students through the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
General Scholarships for Students in International Relations or a Related Field
Please find a list of available external scholarships for students interested in the international relations sector.
Elite Scholarships for Graduate Students
Note: SPS does not endorse or sponsor any of these organizations. For moreinformation and/or questions, please visit the specific scholarship website.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
The Hertz Graduate Fellowship Award provides unique financial and fellowship support to the nation’s most remarkable PhD students in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The award is based on merit (not need) and covers full tuition equivalent for up to five years with a personal-support stipend per academic year.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines who are pursuing research-based masters and doctoral degrees in the U.S. and abroad.
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a fellowship program intended for immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing full time graduate degrees at United States institutions. The program seeks to create “a level playing field” for the consideration of applicants from different backgrounds, in different fields, at different stages in their educational development, and of different ages. Because New Americans and their families have had very different immigration experiences, we take those differences into account in assessing applicants’ success in meeting the selection criteria.
The program seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people, based on financial need, who represent ethnic, gender, social, and geographic diversity and have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State.
The Luce Scholars Program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 15-18 Luce Scholars each year, and welcomes applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields who have had limited exposure to Asia.
Princeton in Asia (PiA) is an independent, non-profit organization that offers year-long, service-oriented fellowships in 21 Asian countries in the fields of education, international development, public health, environmental advocacy, journalism and business. PiA fellowships are open to graduates or graduating seniors from all accredited U.S. colleges and universities.
The Global Community Fellowship is a 13-15 month program for graduating seniors and young or established professionals. Fellows work at NGOs and schools across Asia to support community development and youth education programs.
The American Indian Foundation (IAF) William J. Clinton Fellowship for Services in India is a 10-month volunteer program that pairs a select number of young professionals from the U.S. and India with NGOs and social enterprises in India in order to accelerate impact and create effective projects. AIF provides a living stipend, insurance coverage, and program-related travel to each fellow.
Boren Fellowships provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In exchange for funding, Boren Fellows commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program trains emerging leaders in the fight to end hunger worldwide. The two-year program combines professional development through field and policy work, leadership development training, and facilitated cohort learning. Each fellow receives a financial package.
Contact Us
If you have general thoughts concerning your student experience, we encourage you to submit them on the Listening Owl. We appreciate your feedback.
As a reminder, SPS does not endorse or sponsor any externally-funded scholarships. For more information and/or questions, please visit the specific scholarship website.