Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research

Tuition and Financial Aid

CPTR Faculty member reading a document

Tuition

The 2025-26 tuition for full-time candidates is $6,136 for each academic year, up to five years. Tuition for part-time candidates is one-half the full rate. Candidates who have completed their coursework but have not been granted the program certificate shall be assessed a $520 Continuing Registration charge per term. Additionally, Columbia University charges each student enrolled in our program a CUMC network fee of $225 per semester and a one-time document fee of $105 for entering trainees.

Tuition and fees listed here and elsewhere throughout this website are subject to change without prior notice. 

Supervision Fee

Beginning in the second semester of the first year, candidates pay a supervision fee of $1,934 per semester. 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.

Tuition Payment Policy

Tuition and university fee payments must be received by the payment due date listed on the Columbia University billing schedule to avoid late payment fees, holds, registration reversals, and other actions taken by the university. Additional fees assessed due to late payment are outlined in the Unpaid Bills, Late Fees, and Holds section of the Student Financial Services website. All trainees are responsible for reviewing this information thoroughly.

Columbia offers a monthly payment plan to enable you to pay tuition and fees over several months rather than in one payment. You can sign up for the fall semester beginning in July. Columbia offers this plan through the Nelnet service provider, which is integrated with the monthly E-Bill.

The payment plan is available for the fall term, spring term, or the annual academic year plan.

Visit the Student Financial Services page on payment plans for more information. 

First-Year Trainees

To ensure timely processing by the Registrar and Bursar’s Offices, all first-year trainees are required to submit full payment for the fall semester no later than the deadline indicated on their second fall statement (usually in early October; see the billing schedule). This date aligns with the Registrar’s standard practice of placing holds on unpaid accounts.

 

Continuing Trainees

Continuing trainees with an established record of program participation are granted greater flexibility. To avoid consequences from the Center beyond those imposed by the university, these trainees must submit full payment by the deadline for the fourth statement of each semester (usually in early December; see the billing schedule). 

 

Withdrawals

It is essential to review the information on all pages of the University Registrar’s website on withdrawals before temporarily or permanently leaving Center training. As a general rule, trainees are eligible for a full refund of tuition and most fees during the first and second weeks of classes.  However, it is the trainee’s responsibility to review the section on the Financial Implications of Withdrawing for the most complete and current information.

A withdrawal from a Psychoanalytic Division program should occur at the conclusion of at least one discussion with one or all the training chairs, whom you can email, or reach out to your assigned one directly. Once your decision is finalized, please email Madrid Poultney, who will guide you through the administrative process.

If you need to withdraw from a Psychotherapy Division program, you must inform the Program Chair, copying psychoanalysis@cumc.columbia.edu, to establish the date of withdrawal for university purposes. Once you have done so, you can continue to step two on the University Registrar’s website for requesting a withdrawal.

For general questions about this process, please contact psychoanalysis@cumc.columbia.edu, and the Center's administrative team will be happy to help.

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.

The Roger A. Mackinnon, MD, and Adele Levy Scholarship Funds

The families of Roger A. MacKinnon and Adele R. Levy each made gifts to the Center to support the training of psychoanalysts. Each year, the income from these endowed funds is applied to the tuition of candidates seeking financial aid. Applications for incoming and continuing candidates are made available each summer and due mid-August. Financial aid decisions are sent to applicants prior to the start of the next academic year.

Margaret Morgan Lawrence, MD, Psychoanalytic Scholarship Fund

This scholarship provides financial assistance to a candidate in need who exemplifies the pioneering spirit of Margaret Morgan Lawrence, a Center graduate and America’s first Black psychoanalyst. To inquire regarding its availability, please email the Psychoanalytic Center at psychoanalysis@cumc.columbia.edu.

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 email 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@cumc.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:

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 applies 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 6 months after graduation or if you drop below half-time student status. 

For more information, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Planning for the College of Physicians & Surgeons at 212-305-4100.