Federal Academic Alliance Frequently asked questions

All Federal Employees, dependents under the age of 25, and spouses.

Columbia College will apply a 15% tuition discount to all eligible students.

Yes! [1] Scholarships & grants, employer tuition assistance, financial aid, and different forms of loans are always a great way to help afford attending college.

1 Columbia College tuition discounts cannot be stacked or combined.

All online & evening (in-seat and virtual) courses are eligible including: Certificate programs, Associate’s/Bachelor’s/Master’s level courses, and those attending as a Non-Degree student.

Columbia offers courses online, in-seat at one of our 30+ venues, and hybrid/virtual. Courses start every eight weeks, six times a year. Students can mix and match which style courses fit best throughout your entire degree. Many students choose a mix of in-seat, online, and virtual courses depending on the type of class and time of year. We encourage flexibility in your educational journey.

Complete Columbia College's free online application.

  1. Select Federal Academic Alliance on the application under the education partnerships section.
  2. Provide required documentation to meet admissions eligibility.
  3. Once admitted, an automated verification email will be sent to your CougarMail student email account with a link to the verification form.
  4. Verify by following the directions on the form with one of the two options. Option 1 is to use the employee’s Federal email account to prove employment. Option 2 is to upload proof of employment such as a Leave and Earning Statement, letter from HR, etc. The form is also available for already enrolled students.

All students are encouraged to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) to check eligibility. Some scholarships and grants require students to first submit a FAFSA in order to be considered for eligibility. The financial aid code for Columbia College is 002456.

For additional financial aid information, visit Columbia College’s Financial Aid page.

Please contact Columbia College’s Admissions:

Phone: (573) 875-7352
Phone: 800-231-2391, ext. 7352
Fax: (573) 875-7506
Email: Admissions@CCIS.edu