Stipends

Stipends are living allowances provided by an institution to a student. These funds are paid directly to the student and are meant to offset student expenses, including housing, food, and personal needs. Stipends are not applied toward charges on student accounts. If charges exist, the student must choose to use stipend money to make a payment on their student account.

View the University Payroll Calendars to check your payment dates.

Admins looking for information for how to request or cancel summer stipends should visit the Admin Portal. 


 

Students will receive an email notification from Student Financial Services when a stipend payment is in process.

Eligibility for Stipends

  1. To receive a stipend award, all students must be registered for classes in the term for which the aid has been awarded.
     
  2. All students must submit required documentation to their school's financial aid office for the payment to be processed.

Please note: You must contact your school's financial aid office to complete paperwork or to resolve any concerns about eligibility. Student Financial Services can only assist with questions regarding processing and delivery of payments. We do not oversee who qualifies for stipends or how much they receive and why.

Summer stipends are processed between April and October. Registration may not be required for the Summer Term if the student is enrolled in a school that does not have a Summer Term enrollment requirement.

Please note: You must contact your school's financial aid office to complete paperwork or to resolve any concerns about summer eligibility. Student Financial Services can only assist with questions regarding processing and delivery of payments. We do not oversee who qualifies for stipends or how much they receive and why.

All international students must consult with the International Students & Scholars Office if they expect to receive any forms of payment from Columbia.

International students will need to learn about taxation expectations and must complete special paperwork in order to receive different types of stipends from the university.

How Are Stipends Paid?

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit to a U.S. checking or savings account is the University's preferred method for issuing stipends to all students.

Direct deposit funds are normally in your bank account within 3–5 business days following the date of the stipend processing email notification. 

Paper Check

Domestic students who do not have direct deposit information available in SSOL will receive a paper stipend at their U.S. address listed in SSOL. If students do not have a domestic U.S. address listed in SSOL, the check will be mailed to the Payments and Deposits office located at 210 Kent Hall.

Checks are normally available by mail in 12 business days following the date of the stipend processing email notification. 

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit to a U.S. checking or savings account is the University's preferred method for issuing stipends to all students.

Paper Check

International students who receive stipends for the first time will receive the check at their domestic U.S. address as listed in SSOL. If students do not enter a domestic U.S. address in SSOL, the check will be mailed to the Payments and Deposits office located at 210 Kent Hall.

International students who continue to receive additional stipends and do not have direct deposit information available will receive stipends at their home address provided in PAC

Because stipends for international students are processed through the University payroll system, international students must complete the following steps to update their home address in PAC:

  1. Navigate to My.Columbia.edu.
  2. Click on People at Columbia (PAC) from the homepage. (You can also find this link on the Faculty and Staff landing page.)
  3. Click on the Personal Details tab.
  4. Click on your Home Address to update the information.
  5. Make sure to click Save before exiting the page.
Direct Deposit and Mailing Processing Period

International students may have to wait 10–15 business days because stipends are processed through University payroll. Check the payroll calendar for your payment date.

Expect additional time if stipends are mailed to international addresses. This is one of many reasons international students are highly encouraged to set up a U.S. bank account to use for direct deposit while at Columbia University.

Cancellation Policy

If a stipend is canceled after the student receives the funds (by direct deposit or a cashed check), the student must pay back the net (after tax) amount received, i.e., the amount the student received in hand, through SSOL. No additional stipend will be issued until the repayment is complete.