Estimated Expenses for the Academic Year

An itemized estimate of the cost of attending Columbia College for the 2009–2010 academic year of nine months is as follows:

There is an additional charge for the meals of students who are required to attend Orientation.

Information on planning and managing educational expenses is contained at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs/.

Fees

The following fees, prescribed by statute for each fall or spring term, are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Trustees. The fees shown are those in effect during the 2009–2010 academic year.

University charges such as tuition and fees, residence halls, and dining plans are due and payable in full by the date announced before the beginning of each
term. To check on an account balance, call 212-854-4400. A late payment penalty is assessed on payments received after the due date.

It is the policy of the University to withhold all University services including registration, diplomas, and official transcripts until all financial obligations have
been met.

Tuition 2009–2010

There is a flat tuition charge for all Columbia College students, including visitors, regardless of the number of credits a student is taking. Students who are enrolled for eight terms must pay the flat tuition, regardless of the number of credits they are taking. The charge for 2009–2010 is $18,735 a term.

Postgraduate special students and degree candidates enrolled for a ninth term are billed according to the per-point system; the per-point cost is $1,184.

Late Registration Fee

Students who register after the scheduled period (see Academic Calendar) are charged a late registration fee of $100.

Mandatory Fees

Transcript Fee

All first-time registrants at Columbia University are charged a one-time fee of $95, which thereafter allows them to order transcripts without charge. This fee appears on the first Student Account Statement of the fall term.

Health Service Fee and Student Medical Insurance Premium

Health Service Fee

Services and programs offered by Health Services at Columbia (HSC) are supported by the Health Service Fee. Students who have paid the fee pay no additional charges when using services provided on campus, except for charges for certain immunizations and travel assessments. University policy requires all full-time students to have acceptable health insurance coverage and pay the Health Service Fee. In addition to the services available on campus, HSC arranges for students who have paid the fee to obtain coverage for certain important services from off-campus providers when necessary. There are limits and restrictions on this coverage. Please review the full program descriptions and directions for utilizing the benefits at www.health.columbia.edu. The fee is billed separately for each term according to the following schedule:

The periods of coverage and fees for 2009–2010 are as follows:

Student Medical Insurance Premium

University policy requires all registered full-time students to have acceptable health insurance coverage. Columbia University offers the Student Medical Insurance Plan, which provides both Basic and Comprehensive levels of coverage. The Plan is administered by Aetna Student Health and is underwritten by Aetna. Full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Basic level of the Plan and billed for the insurance premium in addition to the Health Service Fee. Part-time students may elect enrollment in the Health Services Program and in the medical insurance plan. For detailed information about medical insurance coverage, or submitting a waiver request, visit http://www.health.columbia.edu.

Rates

The following rates are for the 2009–2010 plan year. Insurance Plan rates and benefits change annually. For additional information, visit http://www.health.columbia.edu.

When a student drops below full-time status during the change of program period, the Health Service fee and Student Medical Insurance premiums and
enrollment are automatically reversed unless the student has already used the insurance benefits.

Students wishing to remain enrolled in the Health Service Program and the Insurance Plan should stop by the Insurance Office located on the first floor of Wien Hall (212-854-3286).

Withdrawal and Adjustment of Fees

Withdrawal is defined as the dropping of one’s entire program in a given term as opposed to dropping a portion of one’s program (see College and University Policies). Any student withdrawing from the College must notify the Center for Student Advising in writing; notification of instructors or failure to attend classes does not constitute a formal withdrawal and will result in failing grades in all courses.

A student who withdraws is charged a withdrawal fee of $75. In addition, the Health Service fees, the medical insurance premium, and all application fees, late fees, and other special fees are not refundable, and any coverage remains in effect until the end of the term.

Any adjustment of the tuition that the student has paid is reckoned from the date on which the Center for Student Advising receives the student’s written notification. Students receiving financial aid are not entitled to any portion of a refund until all Title IV financial aid programs are credited and all outstanding charges
have been paid.

The date upon which written notice is received from the student by the Center for Student Advising determines the percentage of the rebate.

Withdrawal Adjustment Schedule

When a term begins on a Tuesday, the term week goes from Tuesday to Monday.  Based on the week of withdrawal, the refund percentage is as follows: