Columbia MBA - Cost Breakdown

In this Columbia MBA Cost analysis and funding tips, we cover:

• Columbia MBA - Tuition Fees
• Columbia MBA - Total Cost (1-Year)
• Columbia MBA - Total Cost (2 Years)
• Columbia Cost: 2025-26 vs. 2024-25
• Columbia MBA - Financial Aid
• Columbia MBA Scholarships and Fellowships
• Columbia MBA - Loans Types

Columbia MBA - Tuition Fees

The first-year tuition fee and the total program cost of the Columbia MBA Program are $91,172 and $137,571, respectively, which includes all the other expenses and living costs.

Tuition fees for the second year will likely increase by 2-7%, so the average estimated tuition fee for the second year is $94,800. 
 

Columbia MBA - Total Cost (1-Year)

Tuition fee ($91,172), Mandatory fee ($6,473), Health Services and Insurance ($5,367), Books and Supplies ($1,250), Room and Board ($28,476), Personal Expenses ($3,510), and Transportation ($1,323) are the basic expenses which are added in the total one-year Columbia MBA Fee. All the mentioned expenses add to a total of $137,571. The mandatory fee is not included in the second year of the Columbia MBA Program.

The total one-year cost does not include the cost of the student club tours, outside classroom programs, or club events. Because the first year is only eight months long, the January-entry student living budget varies.

Columbia MBA - Total Cost (2 Years)

As we double the total fee for one academic year and subtract the Mandatory fee ($6,473), which is charged in the first year only, the total Columbia MBA program cost for two years comes out to be $268,669.

To calculate the estimated total MBA program cost as per the estimated increased tuition fee for the second year, tuition fee for both years should be added to twice the other expenses (Personal Expenses, Health Insurance, Books, Housing, and Fees) along with one time Computer Fee and Mandatory Fees which comes out to be $272,300.  

Here, we summarize the 1-year total fees for the Columbia MBA program.

*In the second year, the tuition fee is likely to increase by 2-7%

Columbia Cost: 2024-25 VS 2025-26

Between 2024–25 and 2025–26, the total cost of attending Columbia Business School for first-year MBA students rose from $132,258 to $137,571, representing a 4.02 percent overall increase. This growth reflects moderate inflation across most categories, with a few notable shifts in specific areas.

Tuition increased from $88,300 in 2024–25 to $91,172 in 2025–26, marking a 3.25 percent rise. While the rate of increase has slightly slowed compared to previous years, tuition remains the largest contributor to the total budget and continues to steadily climb each year. 

Mandatory fees rose from $5,857 to $6,473, which translates to a 10.5 percent increase, one of the steepest among all categories. 

Health insurance climbed from $4,955 to $5,367, growing by 8.3 percent, in line with national trends in rising healthcare premiums. Books and supplies remained flat at $1,250 for both years. 

Food and housing costs increased from $27,396 in 2024–25 to $28,476 in 2025–26, reflecting a 3.9 percent rise. This modest increase likely corresponds with the high cost of living in New York City, particularly housing and utilities.

Personal expenses rose from $4,500 to $4,833, an increase of 7.4 percent.

Hence, Columbia’s cost structure for the MBA program in 2025–26 continues to trend upward, with the largest increases concentrated in fees, insurance, and living costs.
 

Related: Columbia MBA Cost Trends

Columbia MBA - Financial Aid

Institutional Funding Overview for Columbia MBA Students

Columbia Business School offers a range of institutional scholarships and fellowships for MBA students, including both merit-based and need-based awards. Merit awards are automatically considered during the admission process without requiring additional applications and are renewable for the second year based on academic standing and adherence to the honor code. Applicants selected for an interview may be invited to submit a need-based aid application, which includes the CSS Profile and income documentation. Need-based aid, ranging from $25,000 to full tuition, is determined individually and is renewable with continued compliance with academic and conduct standards.

Specific named awards are announced during the summer before enrollment. Additional fellowships and grants are available throughout the program, including support for social enterprise, entrepreneurship, global travel, and summer internships. 

Second-year awards recognize top-performing students with financial support during their final semester. The table below summarizes the key institutional funding options, their eligibility criteria, award amounts, and number of awards available (where specified).
 

Read: In-Depth Institutional Funding for Columbia MBA Students (Including Criteria and Total Awards)

Columbia MBA Scholarships and Fellowships

Merit-Based Funds 

A fellowship committee makes all fellowship decisions for incoming August-entry MBA students within the Admissions office. The awards are highly competitive and selective. The committee considers the student's GMAT/GRE/EA scores, undergraduate GPA, work experience, future goals, recommendations, and other factors. 

Need-Based Funds

Many qualified domestic and international candidates are offered partial-tuition scholarships at Columbia Business School. Scholarships are mostly based on need; however, some named scholarships include a merit component or have specific criteria set by the donor.

For those who qualify and have funds available, award amounts range from $7,500 to $30,000. Approximately half of the students who apply for scholarships are awarded a need-based scholarship, with an average award of around $20,000.

To determine a student's need-based aid eligibility, the school considers all available resources, including cash, savings, investments, money market, IRA and retirement accounts, CDs, trust funds, real estate equity, GI and Social Security benefits, the income of the student and spouse, other familial resources, income tax refunds, corporate sponsorships, and prior educational debt levels.

On-Campus Work Opportunities 

Columbia Business School provides students with the opportunity to work on campus as Course Assistants, Teaching Assistants, Tutors, or Research Assistants. 

Military and Veteran Funding Options for Columbia MBA Students

Columbia Business School students who are eligible veterans or service members may access several funding options through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs programs:

•    Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

Students may receive 50% to 100% of a tuition benefit based on their length of service and prior use of benefits. For the current academic year, the full benefit amount is capped at $28,937.09.

•    Yellow Ribbon Program

Eligible students who qualify for 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill® coverage can receive additional funding through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Columbia Business School contributes $20,000 per academic year, matched by the VA, totaling up to $40,000 in additional tuition support annually.

•    Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)

Students with a service-connected disability that impacts their ability to work may qualify for Chapter 31 benefits. If approved, this program covers full tuition and mandatory fees. Eligibility is determined through the VA with the assistance of a VR&E Counselor.

•    Application Benefits

The GI Bill® benefit and part of the Yellow Ribbon award (if applicable) are typically applied during the first semester, with the remaining Yellow Ribbon portion applied to the second semester. The allocation may differ depending on the program (MBA, EMBA, MS), and students are advised to contact the Columbia financial aid office for details.
 

Columbia MBA Emergency Fund

Students enrolled at Columbia Business School may be eligible to apply for emergency aid in cases of unexpected and unforeseeable financial hardship. 

Students may apply only after exhausting all other financial options. 

Funding is extremely limited, and applying does not guarantee an award.

Apart from this, students can also rely on external resources dedicated to particular countries and demographic. 
 

Columbia MBA - Loans Types

More than half of Columbia Business School students use federal and private loan programs to help fund their MBAs. Students should not apply for loans until they have been admitted, as students get access to the site with loan application timing information and a process once admitted. 

Columbia MBA offers four different loan options for students to finance their programs.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

By completing a FAFSA which is a master promissory note, and entrance counseling, US citizens and permanent residents can apply for fixed-rate Federal Direct Loans. For loans disbursed from July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, the fixed interest rate is 7.94% (1.4% hike), with an origination fee of 1.057 percent for loans disbursed on or after October 1, 2020. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are not based on need and are not subject to a credit check. Students may receive up to $20,500 per academic ($10,250 per semester).

Federal Graduate PLUS Loans

By completing a FAFSA, a promissory note, and a PLUS Credit Authorization form, US citizens and permanent residents can apply for a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan. The credit authorization form initiates a credit check to look for any negative history on the student's credit. The Graduate PLUS Loan has less stringent credit requirements than a private loan. Students can also borrow up to the amount of their student financial aid budget, less any other financial aid received.

Before borrowing the Federal Graduate PLUS loan, students must first borrow the full Unsubsidized Loan.

Domestic Private Loans

Columbia Financial Aid office does not endorse or promote any specific lender; however, the university has created a Suggested Lender List for students interested in obtaining a private loan. Private loans are credit-based loans with variable interest rates, though fixed-rate loans are also available. Applicants should get a copy of their credit report to check for discrepancies. The credit report and score are the most important factors in determining eligibility and interest rate tier. Students can also borrow up to the amount of their student financial aid budget, less any other financial aid received.

International Private Loans

Cosigner Option: International students may borrow a private educational loan with a fixed or variable interest rate with the help of a creditworthy US cosigner. Columbia University publishes a Suggested Lender List each year, which includes a comparison chart of private lenders that offer education loans to international students with a creditworthy US cosigner. A student’s cosigner in the United States must be a citizen or permanent resident. Some lenders require a student to have a social security number in addition to a co-signer. It takes 4 to 6 weeks to process the loans, assuming all documentation is in order.

No-cosigner Loan: International students can apply for a no-cosigner loan through Prodigy Finance or Quorum Federal Credit Union. Loan amounts and terms differ depending on the lender. Many international students also rely on personal savings, family funds, government or corporate sponsorships, and/or home-country loans. For additional external assistance, international students should check out the External sources or funds available in their country.

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Reference

Columbia MBA Scholarship and Financial Aid