Frequently Asked Questions
Fellowships, scholarships and other forms of financial aid
1. How can I access the Scholarship Aid Application?
The Scholarship Aid Application will be available December 15, 2011 and can be accessed through the online application (available in mid-September). On the main page, after you log in, you will see a form called "Scholarship Aid Form" above "Application for Admission." The Scholarship Aid Form is due on February 1, 2012. Ph.D. candidates are automatically considered for scholarship aid. The Scholarship Aid Form is not necessary for Ph.D. candidates. However, Ph.D. candidates are required to submit the 2012-2013 FAFSA by February 1, 2012.
2. How do I apply for scholarship aid?
Admission decisions are made without regard to applicants’ financial need.
M.S. and M.A. applicants, both domestic and international, who wish to be considered for scholarship assistance, must submit The Graduate School of Journalism Application for admission (available September 2011) and the Scholarship Aid Form. The Scholarship Aid form will be available December 15, 2011. It will be due February 1, 2012.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents must also submit the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be found at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. The school code for the Graduate School of Journalism, which is required to complete the form, is E00122. The FAFSA will be available on January 1, 2012. Your Scholarship Aid Form and FAFSA are due in February 2012. Ph.D. candidates are automatically considered for scholarship aid. The Scholarship Aid Form is not necessary for Ph.D. candidates. However, Ph.D. candidates are required to submit the 2012-2013 FAFSA by February 1, 2012.
Scholarship award decisions are based on both merit and need. The Journalism School Scholarships and fellowships are administered by the School’s Office of Admission and Financial Aid; all student loans are processed by the University's Office of Student Financial Planning.
3. What supporting documents must be submitted with The Graduate School of Journalism Scholarship Aid Application?
Please submit these documents after you have completed a Scholarship Aid Form. All U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents must submit a 4506 form for each tax return submitted to the IRS. This permits a third party to receive a copy of your 1040 form directly from the federal government. If Columbia requests the 1040 form, the student will be notified in advance.
International students must provide bank statements verifying income and asset information provided in the scholarship form.
4. When is the scholarship aid application deadline?
For 2011 applicants, the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid will be available January 1, 2012 (FAFSA) and The Graduate School of Journalism Scholarship Aid Application will be available December 15, 2011. All scholarship aid documents will be due February 1, 2012. You may submit your online application before you complete your scholarship aid applications.
All International students must provide documentation verifying income and asset information provided in the scholarship application form; examples of these documents are: tax forms, statement from employer, bank statement, etc. by February 1, 2012.
5. When will I be notified of my scholarship aid award? When will I be notified of my federal financial aid?
All admission decision emails will be sent to the applicant at the end of March. All scholarship aid award emails will be sent to the applicant in mid April. In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must submit the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This will be available January 1, 2012. We ask students to complete the Scholarship Aid Form and the FAFSA by February 1, 2012. The Office of Student Financial Planning will notify you of your federal financial aid package once you complete the FAFSA.
6. What percentages of students are on financial aid?
The Graduate School of Journalism offers approximately $4 million annually in fellowships and scholarships to students who demonstrate high academic achievement, financial need, and exceptional promise for leading careers in journalism. In conjunction with the Office of Student Financial Planning, we work with each student to ease the cost of attendance through a combination of scholarships and need-based programs, including grants and federal and private loans.
For the incoming 2011 M.S. class, about 65 percent of those who applied for scholarship aid received funding. Many students utilize additional kinds of financial aid, including grants, loans or scholarships. To apply for scholarship aid from the Journalism School, submit the Journalism School Scholarship Aid application found on our Web site. You will then be automatically considered for merit and need-based scholarships. Admissions decisions are need-blind.
Contact the Admissions Office
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
2950 Broadway (at 116th St.)
Room 203 (lobby)
New York, NY 10027
(212) 854-8608
admissions@jrn.columbia.edu