Tuition and Financial Aid
See the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' website for the latest information about tuition and fees as well as loans and financial aid.
We encourage students to seek out individual scholarships, grants and fellowships from organizations supporting students in the fields covered within OHMA in addition to applying for governmental aid. Currently, OHMA provides only very limited support to its graduate students.
Scholarships and Fellowships
OHMA, the Columbia Center for Oral History Research, and Incite partner with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to offer one or two $10,000 Future Voices Fellowships to admitted students each year.
These fellowships will be awarded to incoming students who have exceptional potential to contribute to the development of the field of oral history and whose proposed work contributes to CCOHR's research mission of documenting the central issues and conflicts of our times.
OHMA also offers several $5000 Oral History Merit Scholarships, awarded to outstanding admitted students on the basis of their past achievement and promise in the program.
No special application is required for these opportunities; all admitted students will be considered.
OHMA is thrilled to offer a $5000 Honoring Scholars of Indigenous Oral History Grant, supported by an anonymous donation from an OHMA alum. It will be awarded annually to a native or non-native OHMA student working with or in support of Indigenous communities. The grant will support the student's cost of living while studying at Columbia.
Many of our students qualify for work-study funding and are hired at the Incite, OHMA, Columbia Center for Oral History Archives or other campus locations, such as the Digital Humanities Center. We also make consulting opportunities on outside projects available to our students.
Public Service (Federal) Loan Forgiveness
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) was created to encourage individuals to enter and continue to work full-time in public service jobs. Under this program, you may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on your eligible federal student loans after you have made 120 income-adjusted payments on loans under certain repayment plans while employed full time in public service or working with 501(c)(3) non-profits. Under such payment plans, your monthly payment on student loans is capped according to your annual salary and if eligible for PSLF, the balance is forgiven after 120 payments (10 years).
For more information, please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness website.
Tuition Benefits for Columbia University Employees
Columbia University provides Tuition Benefits for its employees. Please consult your department administrator for more information.
Apply to be a GHD
Each year, Residential Life selects a motivated and engaged team of Graduate Hall Directors (GHDs) that work with our student staff and student leaders to maintain a supportive and inclusive environment within our residence halls. More information can be found here.
Alternative Sources for Financial Aid
There are many organizations and individuals who would be very interested in funding you in your academic career. We encourage you to browse the internet to learn more and contact current or future employers about employee incentive programs. We have provided links to some of these opportunities below. Additionally, Fastweb is an online scholarship search engine that can be very useful in finding resources to support your studies at OHMA.