Windmills on a hilly horizon with the sun setting behind them.

Financial Aid

The majority of MA in Climate and Society students fund their studies privately or through student loans. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Office of Financial Aid provides financial aid support to MA in Climate and Society students. 

Applicants to the MA in Climate and Society who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may be eligible for federal student loans. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Office of Financial Aid provides resources and support to Climate and Society students navigating the loan application process.

Federal Aid for Graduate Students

The types of US federal aid available to graduate students are limited to federal work-study, the Direct Unsubsidized loan, and the Direct Graduate PLUS loan.

In order to receive US federal work-study or loans, a student must be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen enrolling as at least a half-time student in a degree program and making satisfactory academic progress.

Students considering federal aid should review the Graduate Financial Aid information available on Columbia University’s Student Financial Services website, including the Disclosure on Lender Information and the Graduate Federal Aid section, which discusses eligibility requirements, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), entrance interviews, and general information about federal loans.

Please review each type of aid you are considering below for the documents required to apply. If you will be applying for aid from multiple sources, please first complete the steps for each type of aid you are borrowing and then submit the Request for Loans and/or Federal Work-Study.

Federal Work-Study

All GSAS students applying for federal work-study must complete:

If you will not be borrowing loans, after completing the FAFSA, please complete the Request for Loans and/or Federal Work-Study.

Additional information about federal work-study

Direct Unsubsidized Loan

The federal Direct Unsubsidized loan is subject to an annual limit of $20,500. All GSAS students applying for the Unsubsidized loan must complete:

If you will not be borrowing Graduate PLUS or private loans, after completing the above, please complete the Request for Loans and/or Federal Work-Study.

Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

The federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan may be borrowed to cover up to the cost of attendance less any other aid. Students must maximize their eligibility in the Direct Unsubsidized loan before borrowing a Graduate PLUS loan. All GSAS students applying for the Graduate PLUS loan must complete:

After completing the above, including any steps required to borrow your maximum eligibility in the Direct Unsubsidized loan, please complete the Request for Loans and/or Federal Work-Study.

International students are not eligible for US federal loans. International students may be eligible for a private loan with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident cosigner.

Columbia Climate School  is a proud participant of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program supplements veterans who are eligible for 100% of the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. In academic year 2023-2024 Columbia Climate School provides a grant to help supplement the remaining tuition balance for eligible Yellow Ribbon program veterans and the VA will match this grant. Learn more about veterans' education benefits and the Yellow Ribbon Program at Columbia University.