Scholarships, grants and fellowships are called gift aid because they do not have to be paid back. They may come from governments, colleges and private organizations. Scholarships may be awarded for academic or athletic ability, interest in a certain subject, or volunteer work. Some scholarships may be given based on membership in an ethnic or religious group. Companies may also award scholarships to you or your child. Most grants are need-based, which means they are usually given based on you or your family’s financial circumstances.
Grants at Columbia University come from numerous sources. There are federal pell grants, the federal supplemental educational opportunity grant, and New York State grants. The Aid for Part-Time Study program is a New York state grant. The Aid for Part-Time Study program provides grant assistance for eligible part-time students enrolled in approved undergraduate studies.