Aid at Teachers College
You have a range of financial aid options that could make a Teachers College degree more affordable, including federal aid, institutional (or TC-specific) aid, and aid from external or private funding resources. For most types of aid, there are processes and schedules that you must follow if you wish to be considered for funding. Please be sure to adhere to all noted deadlines in order to maximize your eligibility.
Visit https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/aid-at-teachers-college/ for more information.
To Be Eligible for TC Aid
The Office of Financial Aid, along with Teachers College Faculty and, in some cases special Committees, support reviewing and determining your eligibility for a variety of aid programs at Teachers College.
- If you would like to be eligible for financial aid from TC, then you must indicate your interest by checking the appropriate box in the Institutional Aid Application, which is embedded in the Application for Admission. Confirm that the TC financial aid checkbox is selected before you submit your application. If you select the financial aid checkbox, then you will be considered for several types of financial aid directly from TC.
- Some academic programs at TC offer scholarships or grants for students who are affiliated with their program. These scholarships may require a separate application. If you are admitted to TC, then you may contact your financial aid liaison to learn about any program-based aid that you could apply for, and if a separate application is required.
In addition to aid from Teachers College, you may be eligible for federal or external forms of aid, as well as private funding resources. Many of these forms of aid can be combined, and in some cases, you may need to repay some aid in the future. We encourage you to explore all possible forms of funding to support your TC education.
Types of Aid
Institutional Aid
Your financial aid offer letter may include some funding directly from Teachers College, in addition to any federal financial aid for which you may be eligible. You could receive institutional aid in the form of different types of scholarships, grants, a fellowship or assistantship position, or other awards. Financial aid from TC is not based on your level of financial need. Any institutional aid that you receive from Teachers College is money that you will not need to repay in the future.
Important: If you want to be considered for financial aid from TC, then you must indicate this via a checkbox on the Institutional Aid Application, which is embedded in your Application for Admission. In addition, you may need to submit an additional application to qualify for some forms of financial aid. Your financial aid liaison can help you understand if there are special requirements for certain types of aid that apply to your situation.
Please explore our website to learn important details about each category of Teachers College financial aid.
Institutional Scholarships
Teachers College offers a variety of scholarship awards to Master’s and Doctoral students, recognizing the broad range of talents our students represent. With TC aid, we aim to support your learning and success at the College. However, funding is competitive and limited and not all students will receive awards.
To qualify for Teachers College scholarships, you will need to opt-in for financial aid consideration when you complete your Teachers College Application for Admission. To maximize your eligibility, you are encouraged to submit your admission application by the priority deadline. Go to the How to Apply for Institutional Aid page to learn more.
Funding for Doctoral Students
All newly admitted Doctoral students are automatically considered for the Doctoral Fellows program, TC’s signature scholarship program for Doctoral students. Each year, a subset of new Doctoral students are selected from our applicant pool by our faculty for a limited set of Doctoral Fellow appointments. The Doctoral Fellows program provides a partial or full tuition scholarship and an apprenticeship allowance of $30,000 per year for up to three or four years of study. Apprenticeship training in the form of research, teaching, or other experience is required of most Doctoral Fellows. Faculty make selections upon admission to academic programs and students will be notified if they have been selected by the Office of Financial Aid. Only students who have been appointed as Doctoral Fellows are notified.
Doctoral students are also eligible for a variety of other scholarships, assistantships, endowed and special funds as well as grant programs, which may be awarded to new or continuing students and vary in amount and renewability. Most other awards are granted directly by our academic programs to students. Please explore further institutional aid opportunities utilizing the menu to the right.
Funding for Master's Degree Students
All newly admitted Master’s students are automatically considered for TC’s Master’s student scholarship programs. Scholarships for Master’s students are granted for one or two years, and are applied directly to the cost of tuition. The Founders’ and Teachers’ Future Awards, described below, are administered through the Office of Financial Aid, and granted soon after students are admitted to their respective program. Students may also be selected for a variety of other scholarships, assistantships, endowed and special funds, which may be awarded to new or continuing students and vary in amount and renewability. Most other awards are granted directly by our academic programs to students. Other institutional aid opportunities can be explored using the menu to the right.
Founders' Award
You will be considered for the Founders' Award as a way to help support your first year of graduate study.
| Scholarship Eligibility Criteria | Scholarship Length | Award Benefit |
|
Your first academic year | Up to $18,500 |
Teachers' Future Award Scholarship
You may qualify for a Teachers' Future Award Scholarship to help cover the tuition costs for up to two years of graduate school at Teachers College.
| Scholarship Eligibility Criteria | Scholarship Length | Award Benefit |
|
Renewable up to two years if you meet academic standards | Up to $15,000 per academic year |
Assistantships
Assistantships are paid positions that enable you to gain valuable research, teaching, or other work experience. An assistantship can help cover part of your graduate school cost while you build academic and professional skills. With an assistantship, you will receive a salaried or hourly wage and/or wages credits towards your tuition expenses in exchange for your work on research, teaching, or administrative projects.
Assistantships Basics
This section of our website includes details such as respective responsibilities, time commitments, and compensation for the types of assistantships available at Teachers College. Characteristics of your particular assistantship may vary, but most share the following in common.
- You may work up to 27 hours per week, combined, in all assistantship jobs.
- If your assistantship includes tuition credits as part of its compensation, then you will see that listed on your financial aid offer letter.
- You will receive regular paychecks according to the Teachers College payroll schedule.
- If your assistantship includes tuition credits and those credits are not needed, the funds cannot be converted to or added to your salary.
- The salary/wages you earn in an assistantship position is taxable income that you will report on your taxes, unless otherwise specified.
More information can be found at https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/aid-at-teachers-college/institutional-aid/assistantships/
Endowed & Special Scholarships from Teachers College
You may qualify for endowed funds or other special scholarships from Teachers College if you meet specific criteria related to your academic program or interests. In most cases, our academic departments and programs independently manage their endowed or special scholarship funds. Speak with your program director or advisor about your eligibility and their process for awarding department/program funds.
Endowed & Special Scholarships Administered by the Office of Financial Aid
The endowed and special scholarships that appear below are administered either directly by the Office of Financial Aid or another office as specified. Most require special application procedures, so pay careful attention to the instructions to ensure you are appropriately considered.
The application(s) for these endowed scholarships are made available through the Office of Financial Aid in January of the current academic year for selection and awarding for the following academic year. You will receive an independent email from the Office of Financial Aid with information about the relevant application processes. Applications are typically due in February, and students are notified of awards by mid-March.
More information can be found at https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/aid-at-teachers-college/institutional-aid/endowed--special-scholarships/
Teachers College Grants & Other Awards
Some Teachers College grants require you to submit a separate application. These grants are funded by Teachers College as an institution to support our own students, faculty, and academic programs for specific projects or endeavors. More information about these awards can be found at https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/aid-at-teachers-college/institutional-aid/grants--other-awards/
Apply for Financial Aid at Teachers College
We encourage all students to apply for financial aid. The process does not have to be time-consuming for you, and you could receive funding that lowers your cost of attendance at Teachers College. Your final cost after financial aid could make your graduate school goals more affordable.
Applying for Institutional Aid
Both domestic and international students can apply for scholarship aid from Teachers College. When you complete your Teachers College admission application, be sure to opt-in for financial aid when answering the question in the application about whether you want to be considered for scholarships.
You may qualify for aid in different forms including scholarships, grants, assistantships, and other awards. Learn more about applying for institutional aid.
Your Next Steps in the Process
We want you to know how to interpret your Teachers College financial aid offer letter and options for paying your bill. Learn more about how to review your offer letter and bill from Teachers College.
If you want to make more detailed plans about your graduate school finances, we encourage you to explore our resources for budgeting and financial wellness at Teachers College.
Federal Aid
If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, then you can use federal aid to help pay for graduate school at Teachers College. If you are not a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, we encourage you to review financial aid options for international students.
As a Teachers College student, you could see a combination of funding sources in your financial aid offer letter. If you receive federal grants and loans, our Office of Financial Aid will manage the process of receiving the funds and ensuring that they are applied to your TC bill. Note: If you are a domestic student who isn’t eligible for federal aid, you may be eligible for institutional aid from Teachers College, as well as earnings from working a campus job as a graduate assistant.
Eligibility
To be eligible for federal financial aid, applicants must meet each of the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen
- Be enrolled in at least five (5) credits/points per semester in a degree program
- Be making Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their degree
- Not have been convicted of any offense under federal or state law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance
- Be registered with the Selective Service System, if they are male
- Not be in default on a loan or owe a payment of federal funds
All applicants are encouraged to file a FAFSA, regardless of eligibility for Federal Aid. Students can find and file the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Teachers College institutional code is G03979.
More information on federal aid can be found at https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/aid-at-teachers-college/federal-aid/
Private Loans
Our staff builds your financial aid offer with as much aid as possible, but there may still be a gap between what you can afford and what it will cost you to attend. If this is your situation, private loans may be an option.
Private loans operate differently than federal student loans and have their own advantages and disadvantages. Many private lenders do not offer flexible repayment terms, and they may have higher interest rates and fees. It is your responsibility to understand all of the details if you take out a private loan.
More information can be found at https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/aid-at-teachers-college/private-loans/.