Main Campus Day Aid Information

Federal Financial Aid

Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is available to undergraduate students based on the financial need of the student. Pell grants are awarded based on full-time enrollment. A student may be eligible for the Pell Grant with less than full-time enrollment depending on student’s award. Students may not receive Pell at more than one school at a time. Pell Grant recipients are limited to six scheduled awards (maximum amount for full-time enrollment for a full academic year).

Iran and Afghanistan Service Grant

This is a grant for students who are not eligible for a Pell grant whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/01. Students must be, at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death, less than 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time at an institution of higher education. The amount is the same as Pell Grant amount and is adjusted for less than full-time enrollment.

Direct PLUS Loan Program

This is an unsubsidized loan made to parents (biological, adoptive, or in some cases, step parent) and must be repaid. This loan is a credit-based loan. Student must be enrolled at least half time to be eligible for PLUS loan disbursement. PLUS loans may be available up to unmet cost (see Determination of Federal Financial Aid Award). Parent must complete PLUS loan data sheet and PLUS master promissory note for loan to be certified. Parent also must be approved through a credit check for loan to be processed.

If a student’s parents do not qualify for a PLUS loan, the student may be eligible for additional Stafford loans (See Federal Stafford Loan Annual Limits).

Direct Loan Program

This program provides to students subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans; this aid must be repaid with interest. Loan award amounts depend on various factors (see Determination of Federal Financial Aid Award). Students must complete Stafford loan entrance loan counseling, Stafford Loan master promissory note, and submission of eAward for loan to be certified. Students must be enrolled at least half time to be eligible for loan disbursement.

• Subsidized Stafford Loan is need based. The US Department of Education pays the interest while a student is in school at least half time, during a period of deferment. Effective July 1, 2013 new borrowers are limited to 150% of their academic program to receive subsidized loans. Students who lose eligibility for additional subsidized loans and who subsequently enroll in the same program or another program of equal or shorter duration lose interest subsidy of subsidized loans received after July 1, 2013.
• Unsubsidized Stafford loans are available for students who do not have financial need and for amounts beyond subsidized loan limit for some students. The US Department of Education does not pay interest on unsubsidized loans.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

SEOG is a grant available for undergraduates, based on the financial need of the student. To be eligible students must be receiving Pell. Columbia College is only given a limited amount of funding for SEOG. Awards are no longer made after funds have been expended. To increase possibility of being awarded SEOG, students must submit their FAFSA with Columbia College’s school code prior to March 1 (the spring before the academic year begins). Student must be enrolled to be eligible for SEOG. Any unexpended SEOG funds will be allocated to various students with exceptional need at the end of the academic year. SEOG awards range from $100 to $4,000; the average award is $1,000.

State Financial Aid

Access Missouri

This grant is available to residents of Missouri, based on financial need. Application is made by completing the FAFSA before April 1 (the spring before the academic year begins). Students must be enrolled full-time at Columbia College to be eligible. Enrollment at other institutions may not be used to determine fulltime enrollment for state aid. Amounts vary. Awards are made in an estimated status; awards become official after the add/drop period has ended, full-time enrollment is verified, and Columbia College receives the funding from the state.

Renewal students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 as well as satisfactory academic progress based on quantitative measure and maximum time frame (see financial aid standards of academic progress). Renewal is not automatic; renewal is based on financial need and FAFSA application being completed before April 1 (the spring before the academic year begins). A student may not receive Access for more than 10 semesters.

Bright Flight Scholarship

Students who are Missouri high school graduates who scored in the top 3 percent of Missouri students on the ACT or SAT are eligible for this scholarship. The Missouri Department of Higher Education awards the scholarship. To apply, students should contact the State of Missouri Department of Higher Education, high school guidance counselors or the Registration and Financial Services Office at Columbia College.

Renewable for four years with full-time enrollment and must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 as well as satisfactory academic progress based on quantitative measure and maximum time frame (see financial aid standards of academic progress).

Missouri Minority Teacher Education Scholarship

This scholarship is available to minority students who rank in the top 25% of their class or on the ACT/SAT and intend to pursue teacher certification. Columbia College matches the $1,000 award by the State of Missouri. Applications are available from high school counselors or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Scholarship applications may be obtained from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website: http://www.dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/. Application deadline is June 1.

ROTC Scholarship

Students who are interested in Army, Navy, or Air Force ROTC programs are eligible for this scholarship. The award provides $150 monthly and supplies funding for tuition (in varying amounts), books and fees. Twoand three-year scholarships are available. Contact the Admissions Office.

Scholarships, Grants and Awards

Scholarships, awards and grants are forms of “gift” assistance that do not require repayment. These types of assistance usually come in one of two forms, institutional aid or endowed aid. Many scholarships for the Day campus at Columbia College are awarded on a competitive basis to students of high academic ability. Some awards are automatic based on specific criteria. Other scholarships, awards and grants are made available in recognition of performance or special talent. Endowed scholarships and awards are made available through the generous gifts of alumni and friends of Columbia College. These awards are competitive and are primarily based on academic performance.

Institutional aid is generally intended to be applied to the cost of tuition. Institutional aid is predominately awarded to degree seeking students working on their first undergraduate degree. A student that completes an associate’s degree and continues to pursue their bachelor’s degree is considered to still be working on their first degree.

Students are considered for competitive awards based on academic and qualitative information. Only full-time Day Campus students are eligible to be considered for the following scholarships, grants and awards. Aid is awarded for two academic semesters starting with the first semester of Day Campus enrollment.

All institutional aid and endowed aid awarded to day students can only be used for the fall (August to December) and spring (January to May) 16-week semesters. The aid (to include scholarships, grants and awards) cannot be used for any summer session expenses.

The amount of institutional aid is limited to tuition, fees, on-campus basic, double occupancy room, on-campus board and textbooks purchased through a campus book voucher; the actual expense the aid is available to cover varies and is identified in the specific aid documentation. Students are automatically awarded the highest value scholarship earned unless otherwise requested by the recipient.

Scholarship recipients not receiving federal or state aid who also receive external private scholarships may receive the full value of the private scholarship unless otherwise stated by the organization giving the scholarship. Any fees incurred by the recipients (single room, lab fees, etc.) will be deducted from the private scholarship. If the private scholarship is restricted to tuition, room and/or board, the recipient cannot receive a refund.

Any student receiving institutional aid is required to live on campus unless he/she is living in Boone County with a parent, is 22 years of age, or has completed 52 semester hours. Students receiving a room and board scholarship, award or grant must live on campus in order to receive the aid (cash value for this aid will not be issued to students).

Students are eligible for a maximum of four consecutive years (one year initial award and three years renewal). The actual number of years of renewal is dependent upon the number of transferable college credits (earned post high school completion) associated with admission to the college (see Table 1).

See Individual Aid information for specific eligibility and renewal requirements associated with each form of aid.

Renewal

Scholarships, awards and grants are typically awarded and distributed over two consecutive semesters. Academic scholarships and awards are reviewed for renewal following the second semester. Awards made for students who are admitted for the spring semester will be reviewed for renewal in January of the following year.

Many awards require a minimum number of semester hours and or a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) as a condition of renewal. The semester hours and cumulative GPA are determined from Columbia College courses only.

If a student has not earned the minimum semester hours required of the scholarship during the two semesters, summer courses may be taken at any Columbia College campus (within the same award year) to achieve the required total.

Columbia College aid is awarded based on an established set of criteria identified in the originating documents. Aid is typically awarded for a set amount of time: one term, one session, or one academic year. To receive the aid after the initial award, the student must meet established criteria or re-qualify for the award. If that criterion is not met, the aid is lost and will not be eligible for future reinstatement.

Reinstatement is not an issue when aid eligibility is the measure of qualification; when the student qualifies for the aid, they will receive the aid as identified in their award letter. This type of aid is not renewed; the student just qualifies for it again using the same qualifications as the original award. Examples of this type of aid include but are not limited to: Talent Award, Military Spouse Tuition Grant, Athletic Grant and Twoin-Family Grant.

Other forms of aid are automatically awarded when a set criteria is met for continuing the aid in the subsequent academic period. Examples of this type of aid include, but are not limited to: the Keystone, Cornerstone, and Capstone Scholarships. If the automatic renewal criteria for these types of aid are not met, the aid is lost. For example, a student receives a Cornerstone Scholarship as an entering freshman. Following their freshman year, the student has a cumulative CC GPA of 2.8; they have failed to meet the renewal criteria for the scholarship and it is lost.

NOTE: The CC Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship are exceptions to this policy.

Endowed Scholarships and Awards

Students may benefit from awards and scholarships established through gifts and donations from private individuals, alumni, companies and/or foundations. Eligibility is based on criteria established by the donor and Columbia College. Criteria may include: academic achievement, intended major, community service, financial need or place of residence. A few of these scholarships and awards are included in this section of the catalog.

Boone County Endowed Award

New freshmen who are residents of Boone County with a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or equivalent, and a minimum ACT score of 22 or comparable SAT, may compete for these awards. New transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to compete for these awards. A demonstrated involvement in community service is required to be eligible for this award. Each year awards are made to new, full-time Day students, renewable annually for three years with a 2.5 Columbia College cumulative GPA.

Disciples of Christ Schiffman Supplementary Award

Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) members who are nominated by their ministers may be eligible for a supplementary award in varying amounts. This award is available to new, transfer, and returning students. This tuition-only award is renewable annually for up to three additional years with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and full-time status.

Honors and Awards Convocation

Columbia College recognizes the academic achievements of its students through the annual Honors and Awards Convocation. These annual honors or awards consist of gifts, certificates and/or monetary awards given to current students that return the following academic year of their undergraduate program. Many of the awards are made possible by the generous philanthropy of alumni and friends of Columbia College. The monetary awards are applied to the student’s institutional expenses for the upcoming academic year and are non-renewable.

General Aid

The following forms of institutional aid are available to all Columbia College Day Campus students. Some forms of institutional aid may be combined to provide increased tuition assistance, but at no point can the combined value of the tuition-only assistance exceed 100 percent of the tuition cost. Any combinations resulting in a value in excess of 100 percent tuition will be capped at the 100 percent amount; the excess will not be applied to other institutional expenses nor refunded to the student. All institutional aid is for tuition use only, unless otherwise identified.

A+ Program Grant

This grant is awarded to students who completed the Missouri A+ Program; this tuition-only grant is valued at $500 or $2500. The initial award amount is determined by the Admissions Office upon receipt of all necessary transcripts. The grant is renewable for up to three additional years with full-time status and good academic standing; the value (amount) of the grant at renewal is directly associated with qualification for the Cornerstone, Keystone or Capstone Scholarship. The $2500 A+ Grant cannot be combined with these scholarships. Eligible students who earn the Cornerstone, Keystone, or Capstone scholarship will receive the $500 A+ grant.

Alumni Legacy Grant

Children of alumni who earned an associate, bachelors or master’s degree at Columbia or Christian College are eligible for this 15 percent tuition-only grant. Grandchildren of alumni are eligible for a 10 percent tuition grant. This grant is renewable annually for three additional years with good academic standing. This tuition grant cannot be combined with the Alumni Legacy Scholarship or the Alumni Referral Grant.

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

Children of alumni who earned an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree at Columbia or Christian College are eligible for this 20 percent tuition-only scholarship. Grandchildren of alumni are eligible for a 15 percent tuition scholarship. Incoming freshman recipients must have a minimum 26 ACT (or equivalent SAT) and a 3.5 high school grade point average (or equivalent) to qualify for this scholarship; incoming transfer students have a minimum 3.3 cumulative college GPA to qualify for this scholarship. This scholarship is renewable annually for up to three additional years with 27 semester hours earned at Columbia College per academic year and a 3.3 Columbia College cumulative grade point average in Columbia College coursework. This tuition scholarship cannot be combined with the Alumni Legacy Grant or the Alumni Referral Grant.

Alumni Referral Grant

New traditional freshman or transfer applicants, who are formally referred to the Day Campus Admissions Office by an alumnus, are eligible for a $500 tuition-only grant. The grant is automatically awarded, up to three additional years, with good academic standing and full-time status. Applicants receiving the Alumni Legacy Grant or Alumni Legacy Scholarship are not eligible for this grant.

Athletic Award

This grant is selectively awarded by the Athletic Department to student-athletes participating in one of the college’s 10 NAIA Division I athletic programs. The value of the award is up to cost of tuition and room and board; the grant is renewable through the Athletic Department. Columbia College competes in NAIA Division I in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s cross-country, women’s volleyball and women’s softball.

Capstone Scholarship

This 60 percent tuition-only scholarship is available to all students that have completed the initial eligibility requirements associated with their student status (incoming freshman, transfer student, international or current Columbia College student); the specific eligibility requirements are identified in the accompanying Stone Scholarship Eligibility Matrix (see table 2). All require a minimum 3.60 cumulative grade point average as part of the eligibility; incoming freshmen must also have an ACT ≥ 28. The scholarship is renewable annually for up to three years (see table 1) with a 3.6 Columbia College cumulative GPA and 27 Columbia College semester hours earned per academic year.

Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA) Lifelong Learning Grant

This grant is available to students that completed the highest undergraduate degree available at the time of graduation; for graduates of Christian Female College, this would be the associate degree and for graduates of Columbia College it is the bachelor’s degree. Eligible students may enroll in one course, free of charge, if five years have elapsed since receiving their degree, they owe no fees, and they are not in default on federal loans. Students may enroll for credit or as auditors in courses being offered during the regularly scheduled semesters or sessions, provided space is available and course prerequisites are met.

Students may enroll for credit or as auditors in courses being offered during the regularly scheduled semesters or sessions, provided space is available and course prerequisites are met. This grant cannot be used for graduate-level or online education courses.

Students are required to pay lab fees and textbooks associated with the courses.

Students are permitted to enroll in one free course in each subsequent five-year period but may not accumulate free courses.

Students must apply for admission to be eligible to register for a course. No application fee is required. Students must apply for the grant each academic year by completing the Institutional Aid Application (available online). 

Cornerstone Scholarship

This 25 percent tuition-only scholarship is available to all students that have completed the initial eligibility requirements associated with their student status (incoming freshman, transfer student, international or current Columbia College student); the specific eligibility requirements are identified in the accompanying Stone Scholarship Eligibility Matrix (see table 2). All require a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average as part of the eligibility; incoming freshmen must also have an ACT ≥ 24. The scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years (see table 1) with a 3.2 Columbia College cumulative GPA and 27 Columbia College semester hours earned per academic year.

Disciples of Christ Pastoral Award

Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) members who are nominated by their ministers are eligible for these $1,000 tuition-only awards. This award is available to new, transfer and returning students at Columbia College. There is no limit per congregation. The award is renewable annually for up to three additional years with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and full-time status.

Keystone Scholarship

This 50 percent tuition-only scholarship is available to all students that have completed the initial eligibility requirements associated with their student status (incoming freshman, transfer student, international or current Columbia College student); the specific eligibility requirements are identified in the accompanying Stone Scholarship Eligibility Matrix (see table 2). All require a minimum 3.40 cumulative grade point average as part of the eligibility; incoming freshmen must also have an ACT ≥ 26. The scholarship is renewable up to three additional years (see table 2) with a 3.4 Columbia College cumulative GPA and 27 Columbia College semester hours earned per academic year.

Midwest Student Exchange Grant

Columbia College is a participating institution in the Midwest Student Exchange Program. Students who are permanent residents of Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin receive a 10 percent tuition-only grant upon admission to the College. This grant is renewable annually for up to three additional years with good academic standing.

Military Spouse Tuition Grant

The spouse of an active duty, Guard or Reserve servicemember of any U.S. military service is eligible for this 20 percent tuition grant for in-seat courses. To be eligible, a student must be able to show a valid military spouse ID or other documentation that confirms marriage to a military member and be in good academic standing. Eligibility must be renewed each academic year.

ROTC Award

ROTC scholarship recipients are eligible for this award of 100 percent of basic, double occupancy room charges. Ten awards are available each year. Eligibility for this award is automatically applied upon receipt and confirmation of the student’s ROTC scholarship status by the appropriate ROTC department.

Silver Citizen Grant

Students 65 years of age or older are eligible for the Silver Citizen Grant which is a 50 percent tuition-only grant. Students must be at least 65 years of age before the start of the term in order for the grant to be applied.

Study Abroad Scholarship

Current full-time sophomores and juniors who are planning to attend an approved study abroad program may be eligible for a study abroad scholarship of varying amounts; application is completed through the Study Abroad Program Coordinator. Students must have 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least 15 semester hours of coursework at Columbia College at time of application. A 300-500 word essay explaining their interest and goals of studying abroad is required. Preference will be given to students with demonstrated financial need and those without prior study abroad experience.

Students receiving an award must agree to be a Columbia College Study Abroad Ambassador while they are studying abroad and following their return. During their experience, award recipients must document their experiences, such as through a journal, blog or photos that could be posted on the Columbia College Study Abroad website. Following their return, recipients will be expected to work a minimum number of hours for the Study Abroad Program Coordinator helping promote Study Abroad to other students. The number of hours of service required is contingent on the size of the award received.

Students must return to Columbia College for at least one semester immediately following their experience. This scholarship is not renewable.

Talent Awards and Grants

Students with talent in such areas as art, music and athletics are eligible to compete for these awards/grants. The department chairs/directors determine awards/grants, which vary in amount. Contact the Admissions Office for more information. All renewal is determined by the appropriate academic or athletic department.

Two-in-Family Grant

Full-time students with an immediate family member enrolled full-time at Columbia College are eligible. The tuition grant is worth $500 per year, per Day Campus student. To verify eligibility, the student must apply for the grant each academic year using the Institutional Aid Application available online. The student must be in good academic standing to receive this grant.

Veteran’s Grant

Former U.S. military personnel are eligible for this non-renewable grant. The tuition grant is available for $800. Students must apply for the grant through Institutional Aid Application available online or through the Ousley Family Veterans Service Center.

Freshman Aid

The following forms of institutional aid are available to incoming freshman students only.

Columbia College Scholarship

The top five students are selected at Scholarship Days to receive the college’s most prestigious scholarship which includes full tuition, and on-campus room and board. New freshman applicants with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and minimum 26 ACT (or equivalent SAT) are eligible to compete at Scholarship Days for this scholarship. To participate in Scholarship Days, applicants must complete the admission process, submit two letters of recommendation, and submit a résumé of school/community activities.

Scholarship Day activities include a written essay and an interview with Columbia College faculty members and administrators. The scholarship is renewable annually for three additional years with a 3.6 Columbia College cumulative GPA and 30 semester hours earned at Columbia College per academic year. The Columbia College Scholarship is coordinated with federal and/or state need-based aid. In no case will the student receive less than tuition, room and board as a total aid package. Columbia College Scholarship recipients not receiving federal or state need-based aid who also receive external private scholarships may receive the full value of the private scholarship unless otherwise stated by the organization giving the scholarship. Any fees incurred by the recipient (single room, phone charges, lab fees, etc.) will be deducted from the private scholarship. If the scholarship is payable to the College only, or if the scholarship is restricted (e.g., books only) the recipient cannot receive a refund.

Recipients of the Columbia College Scholarship who receive Resident Assistant Award or the Student  Government Association Award may receive up to $400 per semester book voucher.

Dean’s Scholarship

Five students are selected at Scholarship Days to receive this special recognition. These students will receive a total gift aid package (combination of institutional and endowed aid) greater than or equal to 75% tuition. The renewal requirements will be the individual renewal requirements associated with the aid included in the package.

New freshman applicants with a minimum of 3.5 high school GPA and minimum 26 ACT (or equivalent SAT) are eligible to compete at Scholarship Days for this scholarship. To participate in Scholarship Days, applicants must complete the admission process, submit two letters of recommendation, and submit a résumé of school/community activities.

IB Diploma Scholarship

New freshman students who have completed a recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program with satisfactory marks are eligible for this automatic tuition-only scholarship for up to $4,000. Satisfactory marks are defined as those greater than or equal to scores that will transfer in as Columbia College credit. This scholarship is renewable annually for three years with a 3.2 Columbia College cumulative grade point average and 27 Columbia College semester hours earned per academic year. This award is subject to the Admissions institutional aid cap policy.

Leadership Award

New freshmen who demonstrate leadership in high school and/or community activities are eligible to compete for these awards which vary up to $2,000. The award is renewable annually for three additional years with participation in leadership development activities, including involvement in a minimum of two campus organizations and satisfactory academic standing. This award is subject to the Admissions institutional aid cap policy.

Presidential Scholarship

Five students are selected annually at Scholarship Days to receive this full tuition-only scholarship. New freshman applicants with a minimum 3.5 cumulative high school GPA (GED equivalent) and a minimum 26 ACT (or equivalent SAT) are eligible to compete for this scholarship.

This scholarship is renewable annually for three additional years with a 3.6 Columbia College cumulative GPA and 30 semester hours earned at Columbia College per academic year. Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship who receive Resident Assistant aid or the Student Government Association Award may receive up to $400 per semester for a book voucher.

Scholarship Renewal

Table 1

Stone Scholarship Eligiblity

Table 2

* All grade point averages (GPA’s) are cumulative; equivalent SAT scores are acceptable

** Includes students transferring from other Columbia College Campuses

*** Calculated GPA is a conversion of the international grades to the standard 4.0 scale; the English Proficiency Score (EPS) is a standardized value based on the corresponding TOEFL or IELTS value (see Table 3 below).

English Proficiency Score (EPS)

Table 3

Valedictorian/Salutatorian Scholarship

New freshman applicants ranked first or second in their high school graduating class are awarded a $1,000 non-renewable tuition-only scholarship. In situations where high schools do not formally rank students, if a rank can be obtained from the appropriate high school guidance counselor, the Admissions Office will use that information to award the scholarship. Not applicable to home school students.

Transfer Student Aid

In addition to the General Aid Scholarships, students transferring to Columbia College from other colleges or universities are eligible for specific transfer student scholarships, awards and grants.

Associate Degree Transfer Grant

Students who transfer directly to Columbia College from a community college who have earned an associate degree with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA are awarded this $1,000 grant. This grant is renewable for one year with satisfactory academic standing and completion of 27 Columbia College semester hours. Phi Theta Kappa, Cornerstone, Keystone and Capstone Scholarship recipients are not eligible for this grant.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Scholarship

New transfer students who are Phi Theta Kappa members may compete for this 100 percent tuition-only scholarship. Applicants must be transferring to Columbia College from a community college with an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree or at least 60 transferable semester hours with a 3.6 cumulative grade point average. The scholarship is renewable for one year with a 3.6 Columbia College cumulative Columbia College grade point average and 30 semester hours earned at Columbia College.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

This $500 annual tuition-only scholarship is awarded to Phi Theta Kappa members who transfer directly from a community college, and who have earned an Associate in Arts degree, an Associate in Science degree, or 60 transferable semester hours with a 3.5 GPA from the transfer institution. This scholarship is renewable for one year, with a 3.4 cumulative Columbia College GPA per academic year and 27 semester hours earned during the academic year.

International Student Aid

EAP Tuition Grant

A 15 percent tuition-only grant is available to fulltime English for Academic Purposes (EAP) new freshmen or transfer students enrolled in at least 12 semester hours of the following courses: EAPP 100 , EAPP 101 , EAPP 102 , EAPP 103 , EAPP 104  or EAPP 105 . The grant is awarded to students who are new to Columbia College and is applied during the first two semesters the student is enrolled in the ESL sequence. This grant is not renewable.

International Exchange Student Grant

Students who attend Columbia College from universities or colleges that maintain an active exchange agreement with Columbia College may receive a tuition waiver on a one-for-one basis. Conditions of agreement apply. Columbia College currently maintains active exchange agreements with Jeju National University (South Korea), Kongju National University (South Korea), Konkuk University (South Korea), Rangsit University (Thailand), Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Business School (Scotland) and the University of Shiga Prefecture (Japan).

International Student Grant

Students who attend Columbia College from Kongju National University (South Korea) receive a 30% tuition grant upon admission to the college, renewable annually for three additional years with good academic standing and 27 semester hours earned. It cannot be combined with the Cornerstone, Keystone or Capstone Scholarship.

Student Employment

Federal College Work-Study Program

This federal program provides funding for employment for students who demonstrate financial need according to the results of their FAFSA. Students work either on or off campus earning minimum wage or above. Work-study-eligible students are not guaranteed employment. Student must meet all federal aid eligibility. Students cannot exceed their student employment award. Information regarding open positions and application process is available from the Student Employment Coordinator, Human Resources.

College Work Program

This institutional program provides funding for jobs for student employment. Students work on campus earning minimum wage or above. Work Program eligible students are not guaranteed employment. Students must meet and continue making satisfactory academic progress for employment eligibility. Students must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student and attending at least part-time. If a student should withdraw from all classes, the student is no longer eligible for employment. Students cannot exceed their student employment award. Information regarding open positions and application process is available from the Student Employment Coordinator, Human Resources.

Stipends

This institutional program provides funding for jobs for student employment. Students work on campus earning a set amount based on stipend program. Students must complete all stipend requirements to earn the set amount of funds. Students must be enrolled as degree-seeking and attending at least part time. If a student should withdraw from all classes, the student is no longer eligible for employment. Columbia College has various stipends available to students including athletic trainers, Emerging Leaders, etc. More information is available from the Student Employment Coordinator.

Outside Sources

Alternative Loan Program

Students who do not have federal loan eligibility may apply for an alternative loan. These loans are credit based. Information is available on the financial aid website.

Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits

Students with physical or mental disabilities may be eligible to receive benefits from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Assistance may include counseling; training for vocational, technical or professional employment; and funding for books, supplies, maintenance, medical services and transportation. To apply, students should contact the regional Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Missouri residents may write to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

War Orphans or Armed Services Benefits

If students are dependents of veterans who died or were permanently disabled as a result of military duty, are between the ages of 18 and 26, and are enrolled on a full-time basis, they may be eligible for educational benefits. Students may contact their regional Veteran’s Administration office or the Veterans Coordinator, Columbia College, (573) 875-7504.

GI Educational Benefits

Columbia College is approved for enrollment certification of students eligible to receive educational assistance (GI Bill) from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Eligibility requirements vary for veterans education benefit programs. For additional information and application materials, contact the Columbia College Veterans Certifying Official, (573) 875-7504, vacert@ccis.edu.

Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA)

Students may be eligible to receive benefits from JTPA. Assistance may include counseling; training for vocational, technical or professional employment; and funding for tuition and books. To apply, contact the local Work Connections Office.

Study Abroad Programs

Study Abroad Scholarship information can be found here. Federal financial aid may also be available for Study Abroad Programs. Information regarding individual eligibility is available from the Enrollment Service Center.

Coursework at Other Colleges

A student may be eligible to receive financial aid for courses that apply to the student’s degree that the student enrolls in at another school. A student may complete a Consortium Permission Request form and submit it to Enrollment Service Center (ESC) to be reviewed for eligibility. The form must be received in ESC at least three weeks before the course at the other college begins. For more information, contact ESC.