<p>Text of email that came today. With a similar class size as Harvard who are providing 166 Million, how far does 90 million go? Essentially, they need to ensure they have more paying students.</p>
<p>Thank you for your interest in Columbia University. As you continue to get to know Columbia through our website, our publications, and hopefully a visit to campus, I encourage you to also explore our extensive financial aid program which provides over $90 million in financial aid to undergraduates each year. Visit [Columbia</a> University Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid and Educational Financing](<a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/finaid]Columbia”>Columbia Financial Aid and Educational Financing) to access financial aid forms and deadlines and learn more. We offer one of the most generous need-based financial aid programs to be found in United States colleges: </p>
<p>Admission to Columbia is need-blind for citizens and permanent residents of the United States, and for those in the United States on refugee visas. We do award financial aid to foreign students, though financial need is taken into consideration at the time of admission.
For every student admitted as a first-year student and who applied for financial aid, we meet 100% of the family’s demonstrated financial need, regardless of citizenship, and we continue to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all four years of study.
For students receiving Columbia need-based aid, we have eliminated student loans and replaced them with Columbia grants.
For students coming from families with calculated total annual incomes of less than $60,000 and typical assets, we do not expect parents to contribute to the cost of tuition, fees, room or board.
For students coming from families with calculated total annual incomes between $60,000 and $100,000 and typical assets, we have significantly reduced the parent contribution.
Families earning over $100,000 can still qualify for significant financial aid from Columbia.</p>
<p>Students should never exclude Columbia from their consideration because of its cost. With financial aid, Columbia can be affordable and accessible to students from every socioeconomic background. Just as the admissions staff strives to understand each student’s unique academic and personal achievements in the admissions process, the financial aid office hopes to understand your family’s individual financial situation and how we can help make a Columbia education possible for you. </p>
<p>We look forward to working with you. </p>
<p>Sincerely, </p>
<p>Laurie Schaffler
Dean of Financial Aid/Associate Dean of Student Affairs </p>
<p>P.S. I also encourage you and your family to access our Net Price Calculator [Net</a> Price Calculator | Columbia University Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid and Educational Financing](<a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/finaid/npc]Net”>Estimate Your Net Cost | Columbia Financial Aid and Educational Financing), an interactive tool designed to give an early indication of how much and what types of financial aid students might qualify for if they attend Columbia. Based on data entered by you and your family, the calculator provides an estimate of the approximate family contribution.</p>