Requirements for Checks and Money Orders
Please note: Due to operational changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, mail payments may take at least 10-12 business days to appear in the student account as they are processed by an off-site processing center. If you do not see the payments posted to your student account after 12 business days, please contact [email protected]
Scholarships, 529 Payments, and Private loans may take longer, as these payment types require special processing.
Before you mail your check or money order, please take careful note of the following requirements to ensure the timely processing of your payment:
- Include the top portion of the printed statement stub with your check or money order. If the statement stub is not available, the student’s name and Columbia University PID, the nine-digit identification number, must be written on the check or money order. Failure to provide this identifying information may result in delays in the processing of your payment.
- In order to avoid late payment charges, payments by mail must be received, not simply postmarked, by the due date.
- The processing center cannot accept any mailing that requires signature for receipt.
Mailing Addresses
Checks and money orders in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank account should be made payable to Columbia University. Use the table below to find the mailing address of the appropriate University processing center.
| Payment Type | Mail To: |
|---|---|
Personal checks from a student or authorized payer (checks must be signed), Outside Awards (Scholarship) checks provided by sponsors who do not have an official agreement with the University, 529 Payments from a college savings plan, and Private Loan checks | Columbia University Student Account Payments P.O. Box 1385 New York, NY 10008-1385 |