Tuition & Fees
More Information
Please see the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) Cost of Attendance page for the most up-to-date information on tuition rates and fees.
Tuition
Residence Units
Each semester, students register for a Residence Unit (RU), which provides the basis for tuition charges. Students have the option to register for full Residence Unit (1 RU), half Residence Unit (0.5 RU), or quarter Residence Unit (0.25 RU).
Students must complete the equivalent of 2 Residence Units for the conferral of the MA degree. If a student completes the equivalent of 2 Residence Units before finishing their program requirements, they are required to register for Extended Residence (ER) for any term in which they register for a course.
Please note that GSAS students will not be permitted to register for more than 20 points per semester for the 2022-2023 academic year.
For international students: please note that student visas require full-time enrollment at Columbia. International students therefore need to register for a full Residence Unit (1 RU) each semester. If an international student requires a third semester to complete their program requirements, they would need to register for Extended Residence (ER) in that semester.
Registration Category - Cost Per Semester
Rates for 2022-2023 academic year
- Residence Unit (RU)
- 1 (Full) RU
- Courses/Credits
- Less than or equal to 20 credits
- Cost
- $32,490
- Residence Unit (RU)
- 0.5 (Half) RU
- Courses/Credits
- Three or fewer courses
- Cost
- $17,608
- Residence Unit (RU)
- 0.25 (Quarter) RU
- Courses/Credits
- Two or fewer courses
- Cost
- $10,178
- Residence Unit (RU)
- Extended Residence (ER) *RU category after completing 2 RU *Equivalent to full-time student status
- Courses/Credits
- Less than or equal to 20 credits
- Cost
- $12,366
Sample Tuition Costs
A student who wishes to fulfill the program in 9-12 months, would pay for 2 full Residence Units (2 semesters total, and if need be, taking an Incomplete on a Spring thesis course to complete the thesis during the summer) at $64,980 total tuition. *Tuition rate for the 2022-2023 academic year.
A student who wishes to finish the program in 18 months (3 semesters total), would take 1 RU in the first Fall semester, and then 0.5 RU in the Spring semester, and 0.5 RU in the second Fall semester, at $67,706 total tuition. *Tuition rate for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Please note: international students are required to register for a full Residence Unit (1 RU) each semester; if they need to continue enrollment after completing 2 RU, they will need to register for a Extended Residence (ER) Unit in each subsequent semester.
Fees
In addition to the tuition costs, students may be required to pay additional university fees. These may include: health insurance fees, university facilities fees, and student activity fees. Please visit the GSAS Cost of Attendance page for a list of potential fees as well as an estimated cost of living expenses.