Program costs are subject to Board of Trustees approval and may change.
Program Costs
Academic Year Weekend: $2,815 per session (single course registration)
The amount above includes the fee for the course itself along with the Activities Fee, Health Services Fee, and the Technology Fee. The $80 application fee is not included in this cost. Academic Year Weekend students are permitted to take more than one course. Each additional course costs $2,700. Program rates are based on the 2024–2025 academic year.
Students pay a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure a place in the program. The deposit is credited toward the program cost—it is not an additional fee.
Type
Amount
Course Cost
$2,700.00 per course
Activities Fee
$50.00 per session
Health Services Fee
$30.00 per session
Technology Fee
$35.00 per term
Summer 2026 Program Costs
NYC Residential Summer: $12,764 per session
The amount above includes the fee for the program itself which includes housing and dining, along with the Activities Fee, Health Services Fee, and the Technology Fee. Not included are the application fee ($80) and varying course-specific fees. The total cost is an estimate and remains subject to approval by the Board of Trustees including the Health Services Fee, which is still to be determined.
Students pay a non-refundable $3,500 deposit to secure a place in the program. The deposit is credited toward the program cost, it is not an additional fee. For summer academic enrichment programs, students participating in multiple sessions pay an additional deposit for each session they plan to attend.
Type
Amount
Program Costs
$12,454 per session
Activities Fee
$65.00 per session
Health Services Fee
$210.00 per session
Technology Fee
$35.00 per term
Summer 2026 Program Costs
NYC Commuter Summer (3 Weeks): $6,310 per session
The amount above includes the fee for the program itself along with the Activities Fee, Health Services Fee, and the Technology Fee. Not included are the application fee ($80) and varying course-specific fees. The total cost is an estimate and remains subject to approval by the Board of Trustees including the Health Services Fee, which is still to be determined.
Students pay a non-refundable $2,000 deposit to secure a place in the program. The deposit is credited toward the program cost—it is not an additional fee. For summer academic enrichment programs, students participating in multiple sessions pay an additional deposit for each session they plan to attend.
Type
Amount
Program Cost
$6,100.00 per session
Activities Fee
$65.00 per session
Health Services Fee
$110.00 per session
Technology Fee
$35.00 per term
Summer 2026 Program Costs
NYC Commuter Summer (1 Week): $2,830 per session
The amount above includes the fee for the program itself along with the Activities Fee, Health Services Fee, and the Technology Fee. Not included are the application fee ($80) and varying course-specific fees. The total cost is an estimate and remains subject to approval by the Board of Trustees including the Health Services Fee, which is still to be determined.
Students pay a non-refundable $1,000 deposit to secure a place in the program. The deposit is credited toward the program cost—it is not an additional fee. For summer academic enrichment programs, students participating in multiple sessions pay an additional deposit for each session they plan to attend.
Type
Amount
Program Cost
$2,700.00 per session
Activities Fee
$50.00 per session
Health Services Fee
$45.00 per session
Technology Fee
$35.00 per term
Summer 2026 Program Costs
Online Summer (2 Weeks): $3,965 per session (single course registration)
The amount above includes the fee for the course itself along with the Activities Fee, Health Services Fee, and the Technology Fee. Students enrolled in the 2-week program can take more than one course. Each additional 2-week course costs $3,850. The $80 application fee is not included in this cost. The total cost is an estimate and remains subject to approval by the Board of Trustees including the Health Services Fee, which is still to be determined.
Students pay a non-refundable $1,000 deposit to secure a place in the program. The deposit is credited toward the program cost—it is not an additional fee. For summer academic enrichment programs, students participating in multiple sessions pay an additional deposit for each session they plan to attend.
Type
Amount
Course Cost
$3,850.00 per course
Activities Fee
$50.00 per session
Health Services Fee
$30.00 per session
Technology Fee
$35.00 per term
Summer 2026 Program Costs
Online Summer (1 Week): $2,815 per session
The amount above includes the fee for the program itself along with the Activities Fee, Health Services Fee, and the Technology Fee. The $80 application fee is not included in this cost. The total cost is an estimate and remains subject to approval by the Board of Trustees including the Health Services Fee, which is still to be determined.
Students pay a non-refundable $1,000 deposit to secure a place in the program. The deposit is credited toward the program cost—it is not an additional fee. For summer academic enrichment programs, students participating in multiple sessions pay an additional deposit for each session they plan to attend.
Type
Amount
Program Cost
$2,700.00 per session
Activities Fee
$50.00 per session
Health Services Fee
$30.00 per session
Technology Fee
$35.00 per term
Additional Course Fees
If your course is not listed below, there are no additional expenses anticipated.
Summer 2026 Fees List
These fees cover expenses such as course-related equipment, facilities, and field trips. These fees are not included in the program cost.
Course
Fee Amount
Character Design for Animation and Gaming
$100.00
Creating Original Theater: Playwriting, Directing, and Acting
$200.00
Digital Filmmaking: From Initial Concept to Final Edit
$175.00
Drawing: Eye and Idea
$175.00
Drawing Intensive: Developing a Portfolio
$50.00
Geometric Topology: A Tool for Modeling the Universe
$100.00
Inside the Animal Mind: What Animals Think and Feel
$100.00
Intensive Seminars in Modern Chemistry
$175.00
Introduction to Architectural Design and Theory
$150.00
Introduction to Material Science & Nanotechnology
$175.00
Melodies & Moments: A Journey Through Music Appreciation
$200.00
Painting Intensive
$50.00
Painting: The Painted Image
$175.00
Summer 2026 Fees List
These fees cover expenses such as course-related equipment, facilities, and field trips. These fees are not included in the program cost.
Course
Fee Amount
Drawing Intensive: Developing a Portfolio
$50.00
Painting Intensive
$50.00
Course Materials
For most curricular options, students should budget approximately $50 for expenses such as text books and field trip-related costs. Some courses also require laptops or equipment that should be purchased before the start of class; these requirements are listed toward the bottom of the pertinent course pages.
Bill Payment
For Pre-College Programs, the program cost must be paid in full prior to the start of the program to be eligible for participation. Payment instructions are provided in the admitted student portal and will also be emailed to the students and parents before payment is due.
For Fall 2025, the full program cost must be paid by September 5, 2025. For students enrolling after September 5, the program fee must be paid within two days of course registration.
For Spring 2026, the full program cost must be paid by January 16, 2026. For students enrolling after this time, the program fee must be paid within two days of course registration.
Enrolling students and their parents will receive detailed billing instructions via email two weeks before the payment is due and they can also be found on the Admitted Students webpage. Parents will not be able to pay the balance before mid-May as this is when the University system updates for summer tuition.
Ways to Pay
Invoices can be paid by check, wire transfer, online check (E-Check), and Visa, Mastercard, and American Express credit cards.* Payment instructions are provided in the admitted student portal and will also be emailed to the students and parents before payment is due. Please note that Columbia University does not offer a payment plan for this program.
*If you elect to pay by credit card, a processing fee will be added to your payment: 2.85% for domestic cards and 4.25% for international cards.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available in the form of need-based scholarships for permanent residents located in the United States of America or its five major territories. It is offered for a single summer course in a 3-week, 2-week, or 1-week session, and available for students in either the NYC Commuter Summer or Online Summer programs only. Students participating in multiple sessions may not apply for aid.
Awards are equal to 100% of the program or course cost and they may not be combined with additional financial aid granted through the School of Professional Studies (SPS) or a collaborating organization. The award does not cover the health service fee, technology fee, activities fee, or any applicable course fees.
When applying to the NYC Commuter Summer or Online Summer program, students will have an opportunity to indicate that they are applying for financial aid. Students who meet the minimum program qualification for admission and financial aid residency requirement will be sent a financial aid application to complete via the online application portal. Students who do not meet the minimum qualifications will not have access to the financial aid application.
All financial aid applications require formal documentation of the most recent tax return and W-2 parent(s)/legal guardian(s). Documentation for all parent(s)/legal guardian(s), regardless of marital status, is required. Both the custodial and non-custodial parent/legal guardian must submit the required materials. If either individual has remarried, the income from the new family unit must be reported in full. When reviewing for aid, information submitted from all parties will be considered. Applicants will also be required to answer additional supplementary questions related to income and household information.
Please note that scholarship funding is limited. Applications for financial aid will be reviewed after the deadline of March 2, 2026. Only complete applications will be considered after this date and looked at on a first-completed, first-admitted basis. Upon admission to the program, applicants will also receive a decision regarding their financial aid application. The non-refundable deposit amount is estimated to be $150-$250 depending on the program you apply to.
Students should speak with their school counselor for information on how to search for financial aid and scholarship opportunities from outside sources and organizations.
Application Fee
Students are required to pay a nonrefundable $80.00 application fee. This fee is not included in the program cost.
