Scholarships and Grants

Students must completete the FAFSA along with the institutional aid application to be considered for this scholarship.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, 81% of students received up to $50,000. Aid received may change at any point during the academic year if a student no longer has financial need. 

Significant changes are required to be reported immediately to the Office of Financial Aid. The need based application will become available during the Admissions application cycle.

The PLAN (Pathways to Leadership & Advancement in Nursing) Program. PLAN exists to support and graduate students from economically and evironmentally disadvantage backgrounds into the accelerated graduate Masters Direct Entry Program. PLAN offers financial, academic, emotional, and professional support to students enrolling in the accelerated Masters Direct Entry Program (MDE). Students received $25,000 and apply for this scholarship during the Admissions application cycle.

Mary Bleecker Simmons (Class of 1960) and her husband Dick Simmons created Nursing’s first full tuition clinical scholarship. This generous gift from the Simmons family will allow the school to support scholars through the Masters Direct Entry program and the completion of their Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Nurses with this advanced training will have the skills they need to lead and succeed in our rapidly changing world. 

The Simmons Scholarship will cover full tuition and fees for both your Master’s and Doctoral programs. Students are selected for a scholarship during the admissions application cycle.

The Ladies Christian Union Housing Stipend is a grant awarded to students in the MDE and DNP programs. The application will be made available to enrolled students during the Fall term.

Students who apply to the MDE/DNP combined program and who continue seamlessly from the MDE to the DNP will be awarded a $40,000 scholarship ($20,000/year during the 1st two years of the DNP program).

Students who apply to the Post-BS DNP program will be awarded a $40,000 scholarship ($20,000/year for 1^st two years of the program).

The Sidney and Loretta Teich Foundation Scholarship is a form of institutional aid awarded to students in the MDE and DNP programs.  The application will be made available to enrolled students during the Fall term.

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant is awarded by Columbia University School of Nursing. The purpose of the BHWET Program for Professionals is to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals while also improving distribution of a quality behavioral health workforce and thereby increasing access to behavioral health services. The award is provided to students in the DNP program.

Columbia Alumni Association (CAA). The CAA Scholarship is given to enrolled students who demonstrate academic engagement and leadership within their school and across the University. A student is selected by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations each academic year. Students must be a previous Columbia degree holder. 

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA - Nurse Anesthesia Traineeship) is awarded by Columbia University School of Nursing. The purpose of the Nurse Anesthetist Traineeship Program is to increase the number of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) providing care, especially to rural and underserved populations.The award will be made available to enrolled students in their final semester.

Interschool Fellowships are a form of institutional aid awarded by Columbia University. For more information, visit the Student Financial Services website.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is an initiative authorized by the Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (the Post-9/11 GI Bill ®) in which educational institutions provide eligible student veterans with a tuition waiver or grant matched by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. This program supplements the base educational benefits provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill ®. Participation in this supplementary program is determined by Columbia's participating schools on a first-come, first-serve basis for up to $6,000, and is available only to enrolled students who meet the 100 percent entitlement according to their VA-issued Certificate of Eligibility. 

Priority will be given to students from underrepresented groups or disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to assuming a full-time faculty role or joint-appointed faculty, serving as a preceptor in an underserved area and/or with underserved populations.

• U.S. citizen or national of the U.S, or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. or its territories.
• Enrolled full-time or part-time in an eligible program at the time the NFLP loan is established and must complete the education component(s) to prepare qualified nurse faculty.
• Be in good academic standing in an advanced nurse education program at Columbia Nursing.
• Have no judgment liens entered against him/her based on the default on a federal debt, 28 U.S.C. 3201(e).
• The borrower must maintain full-time or part-time enrollment status for a minimum of two terms/semesters during an academic year while receiving the NFLP loan.
• The NFLP graduate who intends to take advantage of this opportunity precept will serve as a full-time preceptor for students in the DNP program, mentoring and advising students each semester.

• Interest on your Nurse Faculty Loan will accrue at the rate of 3% per annum beginning three months after you cease to be a full-time student in the nurse education program at Columbia Nursing. 
• Interest will be payable at the end of your nine month grace period. This 3% interest rate is contingent upon your completion of the advanced nurse education program and verification of your employment as a nurse faculty member once you graduate. 
• You must submit a properly completed form certifying your employment to the school that granted your loan. If you fail to complete the advanced nurse education program or fail to serve as a full-time nurse faculty member upon graduation, interest on this loan will accrue on the outstanding balance at the prevailing market rate. The prevailing market rate is determined by the Treasury Department and is published quarterly. 

• Repayment of your Nurse Faculty loan is repayable in equal quarterly or monthly installments over a ten-year repayment period that begins nine months after you cease full-time enrollment at Columbia Nursing in the advanced nurse education program. 
• You have the right to pay more than the amount that is due on your loan. This process will shorten the time that your loan is in repayment and reduce the overall interest that you will pay over the life of the loan. 
• You may also prepay any amounts without any penalty all or any part of the principal and accrued interest on the loan at any time. 

• If you fail to make an installment payment when due or fail to comply with any other term of your promissory note, your loan will be considered in default. Columbia Nursing has the right to report any delinquency or default to credit bureaus. 
• Columbia Nursing may also accelerate the loan, which means the entire loan balance will be due and payable immediately and legal action could be taken against you. If you have difficulty making your loan payments, contact Columbia Nursing's billing service immediately at 212-342-4790 or cumc-rfs@columbia.edu.

• Deferment benefits are available to borrowers for up to three years if you are ordered to active duty as a member of the uniformed service of the U.S. (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Oceanic, and Atmospheric Administration Corps (NOAA), or Public Health Service). Volunteer service is not eligible for this type of deferment. 

• Forbearance is an alternative option if you do not qualify for deferment and you are having difficulty making your loan payment. Columbia Nursing may grant forbearance for a limited and specified period or an extension of the time to repay your loans. You may qualify if you request it and provide documentation to support the request. During periods of forbearance, interest continues to accrue. However, the interest is not payable until the forbearance ends. Forbearance periods may cover up to six months at a time. 
• Remember to make your student loan payments until you hear that your request has been granted. If you do not make payments while your request is being processed, your loan may become delinquent and late fees may possibly be assessed. 
• The purpose of the NFLP is to increase the number of doctorally-prepared advanced practice nurse (APN) faculty and preceptors. The NFLP mitigates financial barriers and provide financial support for students enrolled in the Columbia Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs through the NFLP loan cancellation program. Priority will be given to students from underrepresented groups or disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to assuming a full-time faculty role or joint-appointed faculty, serving as a preceptor in an underserved area and/or with underserved populations.
• Graduates are eligible to fulfill their service obligation through the Expanded Employment opportunity by serving as a full-time preceptor for DNP APN students in their employment setting. The NFLP graduate who intends to take advantage of this opportunity will serve as a full time preceptor for students in the DNP program, mentoring and advising students each semester. The NFLP graduate will be appointed as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing on an annual basis.
• The appointment will be contingent upon a fully executed Clinical Practice Agreement (CPA) between Columbia Nursing and the employing agency and establishes a mutually agreed upon relationship between the entities to develop, establish, and maintain clinical education for Columbia Nursing NP students. This closes the loop between Columbia Nursing, the faculty preceptor and the agency and assures a shared vision of quality NP clinical education.

• You are eligible to have up to 85% of your loan cancelled (forgiven) for employment as a full-time faculty member in a school of nursing. To receive this loan cancellation, you must be employed full time as nurse faculty at a school of nursing for a complete year, as defined by the employing school of nursing for 12 consecutive months. 
• During a period of cancellation, principal and interest will be cancelled. If eligible, you may receive the following cancellations: 
  • 20% for the first, second, and third year of employment 25% for the fourth year of employment.
  • These percentages are calculated on the amount of the unpaid balance on the first day of employment. To receive these cancellation benefits, your employment must also be consecutive. 
• You are responsible for submitting the properly completed forms to the school that granted your loan. Two forms are required for each year of eligible employment.
  • A postponement request should be submitted 30 days before your original nine month grace period expires and annually thereafter. 
  • You must also complete and submit a request for cancellation for that same years’ service upon completion of each year of employment as faculty at a school of nursing.   
• You may be ineligible for further cancellation benefits under the following circumstances: 
  • If your employment is not consecutive, you are ineligible for further cancellation benefits. Repayment of your loan will begin and interest will accrue at the prevailing market rate. 
  • If you discontinue employment, you are ineligible for further cancellation. Repayment of your loan will begin and interest will accrue at the prevailing market rate. 
• Paid leave such as vacation or sick leave is not considered a break in service. Once you receive the maximum portion (up to 85%) of the principal amount of the loan and interest, the remaining amount (15% or more depending upon years of employment) of the unpaid balance is repayable at a 3% interest rate over the remainder of your repayment period. The maximum repayment period is ten years. 
• In the event of your permanent total disability or death, your loan obligation will be discharged. In both cases, documentation must be sent to the institution that granted your loan. Loan discharge due to disability requires certification from a physician and is subject to approval by your lending institution. The Department of Health and Human Services will make the final determination of a disability discharge. 

Students may borrow a maximum of $35,500 per year for no more than five years of support. NFLP loans may be used to cover full/partial tuition and the costs of fees, books and other reasonable education expenses (personal living expenses/stipends are not supported).

If you are granted a Nursing Faculty Loan you must:

• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Maintain at least part-time student status
• Commit to assuming a full-time faculty position or to serve as a full-time preceptor for DNP students
• Sign a promissory note, Truth in Lending Act (TILAs), with the Office of Student Financial Services

Complete an online application (provided each fall semester by the financial aid office) and submit by the deadline.

Paid or unpaid leave needs to be consistent with the institution's policy and is subject to supervisory approval. This is not considered a break in service. Only termination of full-time employment is considered a break in service.

The semesters we are awarding are the fall and spring semesters for the academic year (for first-time borrowers). We can award for summer if a student is continuing/based on availability of funding. A continuing NFLP borrower is prioritized versus a new NFLP borrower.

Yes, students will need to reapply each academic year through the financial aid office. Updated documentation (entrance, Master Promissory Note (MPN), Truth in Lending Act (TILA) will be collected for each academic year students participate in the program. Students need not accept the maximum $35,500 each year.

Student placements are coordinated by the academic affairs office, the program directors and vice dean, and the dean of students. Student scheduling is determined by the preceptor/site in conjunction with NP students. We are flexible in how scheduling gets implemented.

For more information, visit the HRSA website.