Financial Support

Graduate student financial package

All students admitted to the Psychology Department are offered a financial package that supports them from September of their first year through the following five years (as long as they are making excellent progress in research, classes and teaching responsibilities).

  • The stipend level is adjusted each year to keep pace with the rate of inflation. In 2019-2020 the stipend was approximately $30,00 for the academic year and approximately $10,000 for the summer of 2020.
  • This support package combines Research Assistant positions and Graduate Teaching Fellowship positions. As Research Assistants, students collaborate on research with a faculty member and graduate teaching responsibilities involve assisting in instruction on one course per year. 
  • Financial support may change slightly if students secure external fellowships (such as the NSFGRFP).
  • The schedule of funding (payments every other week vs. a lump stipend at the beginning of a semester) may vary depending on the source of the support package. 
  • Financial support covers tuition and a health insurance plan.

Financial Aid

Although funding is provided for five years, we recognize that many students may require additional financial aid. We encourage prospective students to direct any questions about financial aid to [email protected] (psych-specific) and [email protected] (GSAS financial aid office). 

Financial aid resources from GSAS:

Financial aid resources not specific to Columbia:

 

Additional Funding Opportunities

  • In some semesters by availability, students may be able to take on additional Teaching Assistant positions for a stipend
  • There are a limited number of part-time departmental administrative jobs available for graduate students (for example, administration of the for-credit participation pool) that provide an additional stipends
  • Graduate students can apply for additional Teaching Fellowships through the Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning