Stipend Payments
Please be aware that we update this web page on a regular basis. Nevertheless, you should always refer to correspondence you received directly from GSAS via email for the most up-to-date stipend information that applies to you. Information about the graduate stipend for 2019-2020 was sent to students on January 30, 2019. Please refer to this letter if you have any questions about your package.
The standard nine-month stipend for academic year 2019-2020 is $30,232.
The GSAS Office of Financial Aid disburses stipends to registered fellows in two payments: during the registration periods at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters (late August/early September and January). To expedite receipt of the stipend, all students are strongly encouraged to arrange for the direct deposit of their stipend payments by following the steps outlined below.
Note: Due to federal regulations, entering students may not enroll in direct deposit until they have arrived on campus and registered for classes. Once on campus, you may register for direct deposit for your second semester.
Students without direct deposit may pick up their stipend checks at the Student Financial Services (SFS) Payments and Deposits Office at 205 Kent Hall. All students will receive email notification from Student Financial Services noting when the direct deposit or paper check will be available.
If you are unable to pick up your paper check at the cashier's window, please contact Norman Strong, SFS Assistant Director (ns2312 [at] columbia.edu), to make alternate arrangements.
Additional information about stipends and tax reporting may be found here.
Salary Payments
Students holding teaching fellow or research fellow appointments receive two-thirds of the total award as stipend (disbursed as described above) and the remainder as semi-monthly payroll (paid on the fifteenth and last day of the month, respectively). Students holding graduate research assistant appointments receive their entire stipend as semi-monthly payroll. All students may receive the payroll portion of their award via direct deposit and are strongly encouraged to do so; to enroll in direct deposit, follow the steps outlined at the bottom of this page.
Fellows who withdraw during a semester, who resign from their appointments, or who are terminated from their appointments must return a prorated portion of the award to the university. The GSAS Office of Financial Aid determines this prorated amount.
Students may review and print their monthly salary statements through the MyColumbia portal.
Additional Compensation
Student officers may receive additional compensation (also known as "add comp") as long as the total service they are rendering the University does not interfere with their studies and the total hours associated with their fellowship and those associated with the activity for which they will receive additional compensation does not exceed twenty hours per week. Students who are nonresident aliens should check with the International Students and Scholars to determine if the additional work is permitted by the terms of their visa. The payment of additional compensation to student officers requires the prior approval of the Dean of GSAS, the department chair and/or the dean of the unit in which they are providing the additional services, the dean or vice president of the unit within which they hold an appointment, and the Provost.
Direct Deposit
US citizens and permanent residents enroll in direct deposit using different procedures from those used by international students; please refer to the correct procedures outlined below.
US Citizens and Permanent Residents
To sign up for direct deposit, US citizens and permanent residents must complete the following steps:
- Register either for classes or in a registration category for the fall semester by August 1. You do not need to register for your full complement of courses, and you may change your registration subsequently; however, you must be registered for at least one class or registration category to be eligible for direct deposit in the fall semester. Consult SSOL for registration appointment times.
- Enroll in direct deposit via SSOL. You will need your bank routing number and your savings/checking account number.
International Students
To sign up for direct deposit, international students must complete the following steps:
- Register either for classes or in a registration category for the fall semester. You do not need to register for your full complement of courses, and you may change your registration subsequently; however, you must be registered for at least one class or registration category by August 1 to be eligible for direct deposit in the fall semester. Consult SSOL for registration appointment times.
- Sign up through the MyColumbia portal and follow these instructions.
Please be aware that we update this web page on a regular basis. Nevertheless, you should always refer to correspondence you received directly from GSAS via email for the most up-to-date stipend information that applies to you. Information about the graduate stipend for 2019-2020 was sent to students on January 30, 2019. Please refer to this letter if you have any questions about your package.