Student and Family Support

Family Connection: College Costs

In This Newsletter

  • Financial Aid & Billing: Two Offices to Help
  • 2015-2016 Tuition and Fees & Online Bill Estimator
  • Authorized Payer Accounts
  • Current Statements
  • Recent Activity
  • Consider the Payment Plan
  • Explore Financing Options
  • Direct Deposit
  • Upcoming Events
  • Important Dates

We are thrilled to join the chorus of voices welcoming you to the Columbia community! The Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing has been working closely with Student Financial Services to provide for your son's or daughter's smooth transition to Columbia in the fall. This message will serve as a guide to preparing to pay the college bill. Whether or not your student is receiving financial aid, our staff members are dedicated to assisting your family in planning how best to finance his/her education.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Tuman
Executive Director of Financial Aid
Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of
Engineering and Applied Science

While they similarly provide extensive resources to educate your family about managing college expenses, each office provides unique services.

Financial Aid & Billing: Two Offices to Help

When your student needs help with financial matters, there are two offices that can help.

The Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing serves undergraduate students at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, awarding financial aid and providing guidance to students and families about education loans and other financing options. Student Financial Services supports the entire community by managing student billing, accepting and processing payments, distributing refunds, and administering federal work-study.

News & Announcements

2015-2016 Tuition and Fees & Online Bill Estimator

See the 2015-2016 cost for tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board, and use the online Bill Estimator to project the amount you will be expected to pay for the academic year.

Read more

Authorized Payer Accounts

Federal privacy regulations limit the access of other people, including family members, to student accounts. For parents or other parties to be able to view and pay monthly E-Bills, your student must set you up as an Authorized Payer.

Read more

Current Statements

Account statements are monthly snapshots of accounts as of the reflected issue date. They are e-mailed to Authorized Payers each month and include a due date for any balance owed at the time generated. Recent charges or credits may not be reflected. Students can view the statements in their SSOL accounts.

Read more

Recent Activity

This will reflect current charges and credits applied since the last statement was generated. Until August, when the fall term bill is generated, only the admission deposit will be visible. Your student can view the recent activity in the Student Account Detail portion of his/her SSOL account.

Read more

Consider the Payment Plan

Columbia’s Payment Plan enables students and/ or families to pay billed expenses over several months, rather than in one payment. It is not a loan, and while there is an application fee, there are no interest charges or credit checks. Students can sign up today!

Read more

Explore Financing Options

A variety of loan options are available to undergraduate students and families. You and your student may borrow loans to finance a portion or all of the Student Contribution (SC) and/ or Parent Contribution (PC).

Read more

Direct Deposit

If your student is receiving financial aid or a stipend in excess of the billed expenses s/he may receive a credit to the student account. The University’s preferred method of a refund distribution is through direct deposit. To enroll, domestic students should log into SSOL.

Read more

 

Upcoming Events

Jul
16
COLUMBIA 101 Webinar: Student Financial Services
Jul
30
COLUMBIA 101 Webinar: Housing

Important Dates

Jun
30
Housing assignments released
Jul
15
Student deadline to submit ID card photo
Jul
15
Open Enrollment for Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan begins
Aug
1
Student deadline to submit proof of MMR immunity
Aug
1
Student deadline to certify Meningitis vaccination decision
Aug
23
CUE student move in
Aug
24
ISOP student move-in
Aug
26
COÖP student move in
Aug
30
Move in Day 1
Aug
31
Move in day 2, Family Orientation, Convocation
Aug
31
New Student Orientation Begins (through Monday, September 7)
Sep
8
First day of fall classes
Sep
30
Columbia student health insurance waive/enroll deadline
Nov
2
Fall Break (No Classes)
Nov
3
Fall Break (No Classes)
Nov
26
Thanksgiving Break (No Classes)
Nov
27
Thanksgiving Break (No Classes)
Dec
17
Fall final exams begin
Dec
23
Fall final exams conclude
Jan
19
First day of Spring 2016 classes
Mar
14
Spring break (March 14-18)
May
6
Spring final exams begin
May
13
Spring final exams conclude
May
14
Residence halls close (12:00 p.m.)

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