Tuition and Financial Aid
Costs
Tuition
The 2024-25 tuition for full-time candidates is $5,900 for each academic year, up to five years. Tuition for part-time candidates is one-half the full rate.
Supervision Fee
Beginning in the second semester of the first year, candidates pay a supervision fee each semester, which is $1,860 for the 2024-25 academic year. This fee provides for up to three ongoing supervisions, meeting once weekly. Supervisors donate their time to the Center. This fee covers the Center's overall operating expenses.
Training Analysis Fee
The setting of the fee for a candidate’s training analysis is conducted privately between the analyst and candidate and routinely involves thoughtful consideration of the candidate’s financial circumstances. Training analysts who are able to will typically reduce their fees significantly for candidates. Our current candidates’ fees range from $100 to $400 per session and are evenly distributed across that range. Some analysts may be willing to reduce their fees further for candidates if their own circumstances permit.
Insurance reimbursement plays a significant role in the affordability of a training analysis. Just under half of our trainees choose to enroll in Columbia University student health insurance. The vast majority obtain reimbursement from their insurer. On average, candidates are reimbursed about two-thirds of the cost of their analysis.
Other Fees
Candidates who have completed their course work but have not been granted the program certificate shall be assessed a $500 Continuing Registration charge per term. Additionally, Columbia University charges each student enrolled in our program a CUMC network fee of $218 per semester.
Financial Aid
The Center has available various scholarship and loan programs. Once accepted for training, all candidates are eligible to apply for these loans or scholarships to help them finance psychoanalytic training. To apply for a need-based grant or loan from the Center, please request our financial aid form from Madrid Poultney at mp3093@cumc.columbia.edu.
The Roger A. Mackinnon, MD, Scholarship Fund
This fund provides tuition assistance for candidates based on need. To apply, please contact the Psychoanalytic Center at psychoanalysis@cumc.columbia.edu.
Margaret Morgan Lawrence, MD, Psychoanalytic Scholarship Fund
This scholarship aims to give trainees of color with demonstrable financial need assistance in defraying the costs of psychoanalytic training at our Center. While we continue to grow this fund, it is currently only able to support one trainee at a time. To inquire regarding its availability, please email the Psychoanalytic Center.
Adele R. Levy Loan Fund
Candidates may borrow full tuition each year up to a total indebtedness of $22,500 from this fund, which was set up exclusively for candidates at the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. The annual interest rate is 5 percent. During training, “interest only” is payable at the end of each year. Following training, there is a grace period of six months, after which the loan principal and interest must be repaid within a maximum of five years. The minimum monthly payment is $300.
To apply, please contact the Psychoanalytic Center at psychoanalysis@cumc.columbia.edu .
Poe Loan Fund
This loan is administered by the Columbia University Psychoanalytic Center Alumni Association. Candidates may borrow up to a total of $1,500 interest-free from this fund, which was set up exclusively for candidates at the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. This loan must be repaid over a two-year period beginning two years after completion of training. Contact Dr. Jules Kerman, jdk2@columbia.edu, for information about applying.
American Psychoanalytic Association Candidate Assistance Fund
The Candidate Assistance Fund of the American Psychoanalytic Association provides loans up to $5,000 to candidates training to be psychoanalysts. The loans, to be repaid within a maximum of six years, are made from a revolving fund, so repayment is critical in order to continue making loans. Currently, between five and seven loans are made annually. Any questions should be addressed to Dean K. Stein at deankstein@apsa.org or 212-752-0450, ext. 30.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan And Graduate Plus Loan Programs
If you are at least a half-time student and a US Citizen or permanent resident, these loans can help you meet your educational expenses. Neither loan is ‘subsidized’ and interest accrues from disbursement. Interest rates are established each year and, once set, apply for the life of that year’s loan – i.e., it’s a fixed interest rate. The lender is the US Department of Education.
The annual loan limit for the Unsub Stafford for graduate students is $20,500. If you did not attend medical school, the total debt allowed for graduate or professional study is $138,500 (of which no more than $65,500 may be in Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans). The graduate debt limit includes any Federal Direct Stafford loans received prior to matriculation here. If you attended medical school, the cumulative limit is $224,000.
The Grad PLUS loan allows you to borrow up to the cost of attendance, less any other financial aid you receive. This loan has no cumulative limit.
Repayment begins six months after graduation or if you drop below half-time student status.
For more information, please contact the Student Financial Aid & Planning for the Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons at 212-305-4100.
Health Insurance
All psychoanalytic candidates are eligible to purchase coverage under Columbia's Student Health Insurance. This benefit plays a significant role in helping defray the costs of training (and, in particular, the cost of the training analysis).
Learn More About Columbia's Student Health Insurance