Additional Scholarship and Funding Options

The Pat Tillman Scholarship Foundation provides military scholarship support for the upcoming fall and spring academic year to veterans, active servicemembers, and their spouses pursuing full-time enrollment toward an academic degree. Child dependents are not eligible. Funds cannot be retroactively used for a previous academic year. However, the scholarship may be renewed for subsequent academic years provided the student meets renewal standards.

Visit the Eligibility & Requirements page of the Pat Tillman Scholarship Foundation website to find additional guidelines for eligibility, application requirements, and information about renewal. There is also an FAQ with answers to more specific questions some prospective applicants might have. 

Join the mailing list to be notified when the Tillman Scholar entrance period opens. The application deadline is generally at the end of February with the new class of Tillman Scholars announced in June. 

The National Military Family Association Military Spouse Scholarship Program offers scholarships awarded to spouses of uniformed servicemembers (active duty, National Guard and Reserve, retirees, and survivors) to obtain professional certification or to attend post-secondary or graduate school.

Scholarships range in amounts from $500 to $1,000; the number awarded each year varies depending on funding.

Veterans United Foundation Scholarships are offered twice a year in May and November for service members with disabilities or the spouses and dependents of deceased veterans whose deaths were service-related. 

The VFW has partnered with Student Veterans of America and Sport Clips Haircuts to provide up to $5000 for retired, honorably discharged, active duty, or National Guard or Reserves service members who are U.S. citizens to apply toward Columbia. Visit the VFW website to learn about eligibility and how to apply.

The American Legions offers a variety of scholarship opportunities American Legion participants, athletes, veterans and their descendants, Eagle Scouts and more. To learn more about the types of scholarships available and who is eligible to apply, visit the American Legion website.

AMVETS offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to veterans and service members, including Reserves and National Guard. There are opportunities for the spouses, children, and grandchildren of veterans and service members as well. Learn more about available scholarships and eligibility to apply at the AMVETS website.

PVA offers scholarships to members, their spouses, and their children under 24 years of age. Visit the PVA website to learn about eligibility and how to apply.

Army Education Relief Fund provides scholarship opportunities for children and spouses of retired and active Army soldiers.

• Air Force

• Army

• Coast Guard

• Marines

  • You will be asked to select your installation to see information specific to your location.

• Navy

The Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance to eligible active duty service members for educational programs in support of professional and personal self-development goals. The TA program will fund up to $250 per credit not to exceed $4,500 per fiscal year, October 1 through September 30.  

Applying for Tuition Assistance 

The general process for requesting Tuition Assistance is the same for all branches of the military, however, each military branch uses a different educational portal, which you can find additional information on TA. It’s also important to check with your military branch to understand the time frame in which you can request your TA. 

To apply: 

1. Speak with your Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within your military branch to ensure your TA eligibility prior to enrolling in courses. 
2. Follow your ESO or counselor’s instructions for how to request TA for your course(s). Complete your TA request online through your military branch’s educational portal. 
   • You may be required to submit an educational degree plan, which you can get from your school’s Academic Advising.
   • If you are required to provide a cost verification as part of your application, you can print your charges from your student account on SSOL 
   • Select Columbia University as your academic institution. 
3. After your TA funding is approved by your military branch, send your tuition assistance approval to the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs office and they will add anticipated aid to your student account as a placeholder until your benefit payment is received. 

The Tuition Assistance funding will be applied to your balance due for the term as the first source of payment. 

For questions regarding TA eligibility or the process for applying for TA, speak with your Educational Services Office or counselor within your specific military branch. 

Additional information on utilizing Military Tuition Assistance can also be found online at Military Tuition Assistance | Military.com 

Dropping Courses or Withdrawing 

If a student drops a course(s) covered by TA funds during the add/drop period, all TA funds will be returned to the appropriate military service branch. After the add/drop period concludes, if a student with TA funding withdraws from a course(s) within a term, Columbia will be required to return a portion of the TA funds to the appropriate military service branch based on when the student ceases attendance. Per Department of Defense policy, when a student ceases attendance in a term, TA funds must be returned on a proportional basis up to the 60 percent point in the term. 

Credit Transfer Policy

Policies on transferring credit are determined by school/program. For more information please visit, Transfer of Credit Policies and Articulation Agreements

Military Leave of Absence Policy

Under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), institutions are required to readmit an individual who left school or did not accept an offer of admission in order to perform military service. 

For more information on eligibility and readmission requirements of this policy please visit, Military Leave of Absence Policy.

Please review per point tuition rates HERE

If you are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant based on your EFC, you may be eligible to receive the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if your parent or guardian died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11. The maximum amount of the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is the same as the maximum Pell Grant award.

To be eligible, you must have been less than 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time at a college at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death. Payments will be adjusted if you are enrolled less than full-time.

You will only be evaluated for this award when you fill out the FAFSA.