Award Acceptance

Based on submission of your FAFSA and review of its data, a financial aid award letter will be sent to the email account you used on your Admission Application.  For Fall Term admits, award letters are generally sent in late spring; continuing students receive their award letters in early summer. Students entering the 16-Month Program in January are usually sent award letters in late November/early December.

When you receive your award letter, you must accept or decline each award via the online financial aid tracking system. Log in to Net Partner using your 10-digit CUID number listed at the top of your award letter and, for first-time users, your date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy). Each award must be either accepted or declined; no awards can be left in the ‘pending’ status or your financial aid will not be able to be processed.

Please see below for additional requirements for specific types of aid:


Scholarships
If you are awarded and wish to accept a scholarship, you must do so via Net Partner. Please note that you must be registered full-time and in field education in order to be eligible for a scholarship.


Work Study
There are a number of documents that must be submitted to the Work-Study Office in 210 Kent Hall prior to your being put on payroll.  Since payment cannot be made for any time worked before you are officially set up on payroll, you should complete these requirements before you begin your field placement or as early in the academic year as possible. For additional information about the award, and for the link to the Federal Work-Study website for the required forms, please click here.


Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
In addition to accepting the loan on Net Partner, the following steps must be taken:

1. Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note must be completed at studentloans.gov. Confirmation of the completion of these two forms will be sent electronically to the University by the Department of Education.

2. All borrowers must complete a Loan Request Form specifying the amount being borrowed up to the maximum listed on the award letter.

Click here for information about deferring student loans currently in repayment.


Alternative Loans
To meet the full cost of attendance, your financial aid package will include an amount for an alternative loan. After you borrow your full eligibility in the Unsubsidized loan listed above, you may choose to borrow any amount up to the maximum listed under the alternative loan from either the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan program or as a private loan from a lender. Both of these loan types are subject to credit approval.For more information on private loans and suggested lenders, please see the University’s website for Graduate Financial Aid.

In addition to accepting the alternative loan on Net Partner, the following steps must be taken if you intent to borrow from one of these sources:

Click here for information about deferring student loans currently in repayment.


Financial Aid Disbursements
With the exception of some outside scholarships, all financial aid awards are disbursed directly to the University. Generally, all annual awards are disbursed in two equal installments, one at the beginning of each semester. Posting of financial aid credits will begin during the first two weeks of classes for the appropriate semester. Loan funds will first be applied toward tuition and fees and, if a credit balance remains on your account, a refund will be issued.


Refunds
If the total amount of your loans and scholarship exceeds the semester cost of tuition and fees, a refund will be issued to you within a few days of the credit occurring on your student account.  You will have access to your funds more quickly if you opt to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account.  You may complete the authorization for direct deposit at Student Services Online (SSOL).

Refunds that are directly deposited into students’ bank accounts arrive within 3-5 days after the refund is processed. If you choose not to have your funds directly deposited, a check will be mailed to you.
 

In-School Deferments
Unless you have forfeited your eligibility for a deferment, you are not required to make payment on federal loans while enrolled half-time or more at the Columbia University School of Social Work.  In order to defer these loans, first contact your loan servicer and notify them of your anticipated enrollment.  If your lender requires paper documentation, request an in-school deferment form and have it authorized by the Registrar’s Office in 205 Kent Hall.  In many instances, however, your loan servicer will have already been notified electronically of your new enrollment and a deferment form will be unnecessary.