Smithview

My son will be a senior at Columbia this fall. Their financial assistance is a joke. My youngest son is also starting college in the fall, thus leaving us with a set of college expenses. We reasonably expected that in light of this change of situation, which was disclosed to Columbia, its aid would increase this year as our income did not. We just received the financial aid letter today: it went DOWN. Unbelievable. When Columbia says that its students leave college debt free, don't believe them. My son already has in excess of $55,000 of debt with one year to go. At this rate, grad school may just be a pipe dream. And to think, Thank goodness that son #2 will receive some reasonable assistance from his chosen university.

Venting over...

DowneasterDad

Pretty vague rant. I'm not sure I've ever read anywhere that Columbia claims debt-free tuition. How much you pay obviously depends on where you are on the income scale. But depending on your situation, I'd say 55 grand over 3 years isn't monsterous for the calibur of education.

swingtime

In all honesty I have never heard from Columbia that students leave debt-free. Ever! In fact, I cannot imagine ANY college ever making this claim.

FWIW, I will say we have found Columbia Financial Aid to be extremely responsive and supportive. Therefore, I think you should actually be contacting Columbia FA about this. Instead of just "reasonably" expecting what you expected, get a letter together and impress upon Columbia what your stiutation is. However, even with two kids in college, if you do make a certain level of income Columbia may, unfortunately, "reasonably" believe you are in a position to pay both tuitions. If this is NOT true, WORK with Columbia on this.

And, if your son is planning on grad school, he should be working with his advisors and the career office to look into graduate school funding and fellowships ASAP! Many students receive outside funding for grad school -- depending on field...-- in the forms of grants and fellowships.

ace550

smithview,

This could be informative. I am wondering how much more would you have to pay (including any loan) than the amount per NPC? Is it $2K more or $5K more (before and after the youngest boy gets into his college)?

cmarshall497

Could you be a little more specific? Everyone's situation is different. You don't have to say exactly how much you make, but are you lower class, middle class, or rich? And also, did he go to the engineering school? I've always heard that financial aid is great for Columbia College, but not for SEAS.

columbiafan

Just like regular college applications, financial aid differs on an individual basis. My family is in the upper bracket and I received around $30,000 from Columbia. (Columbia College)