Checklist for Securing Your Finances

Please review the following to make sure you understand your costs and you properly secure your finances for the upcoming academic year.

• 1. Complete the Estimate Your Costs Worksheet.
  Please make sure you have completed the Estimate Your Costs Worksheet. Your questions will be answered about what you will owe Columbia and if you need to secure any additional funds for educational expenses.
• 2. Secure Loan Funds.
  If your Estimate Your Costs Worksheet includes a need for loans, you will need to complete some additional steps to secure these funds.
• Please refer to the steps below that correspond with the loans included in your award letter. Each loan program has different steps.
• Federal Stafford Loan
  (students only) applicants need to complete:
  a) Entrance Counseling Session
  b) Promissory Note
• Federal Parent PLUS Loan
  (Parents of dependent students only) applicants need to complete:
  a) Credit Application
  b) Promissory Note
• Private Educational Loan
  (parents and students) need to complete:
  a) Credit Application
  b) Promissory Note
• 3. Review Billing Information and Payment Options.
  If you plan on paying costs to Columbia out-of-pocket, please review our payment options and our Columbia College Payment Plan.
• 4. Review your award and make any necessary changes.
  If you do not plan on using your loans or you wish to decline any or all of your awards, you may do so by completing an Award Change Request Form. 
• 5. Submit additional documents if necessary.
  You may need to provide additional documents to finalize your financial aid. Student Financial Services will notify you what documents are needed by mail and/or phone. Some students will be selected for a process called Verification and will need to submit additional documents.
• 6. Review our Customer Service Options and the SFS Website.
  SFS has a variety of customer service options designed to help you navigate the process of paying for college.