New York, NY – December 4, 2025 – Columbia Journalism School today announced a significant expansion of its CJS2030 Access Initiative, committing nearly $10 million in scholarship support for the 2026–27 academic year—one of the largest single-year investments in financial aid in the School’s history. The increase, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of its donors, marks a major step in CJS’s effort to remove barriers for talented students pursuing a graduate journalism degree.
“Increasing access and affordability is central to our public mission,” said Jelani Cobb, Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism. “This expanded scholarship support is an investment in the next generation of journalists—especially those who may not have imagined Columbia as within reach. We want every qualified applicant to see themselves here.”
The announcement comes on the heels of another landmark change: the removal of application fees, which allowed prospective students to apply at no cost for the first time last year. Together, these changes support a more inclusive admissions process and broaden opportunities for all students interested in pursuing an Ivy League journalism education.
