Columbians College Scholarship

The Columbians annually award area students between $25,000 and $50,000 in scholarships. Each award ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 for the successful candidate. Applications are available by clicking the Scholarship Applications button below.

The Scholarship Committee of the Columbians reviews each application and considers the following criteria:

• Financial Need
• Academic Achievement
• SAT/ACT Score
• Community and Extracurricular Involvement
• Essay Submission
• Any Special Circumstances Demonstrate an Interest in Italian Heritage, Art, Music, or Culture.
• The Completed Application Must be Received by May 1, 2026
• The student must be a High School Senior residing in Bergen or Passaic County, New Jersey.

Re-Award Scholarship Application

The Columbians may provide ongoing financial support of up to $1,000 annually for applicants in their sophomore, junior, and senior years. The re-award applicant must demonstrate outstanding academic performance and continued financial need. The applicant must re-apply for the re-award scholarship each year.

The Re-Award depends on our budget; there is no guarantee that we will be able to issue a Re-Award in any given year.

The Columbians is a New Jersey-based Italian-American Philanthropic Organization.

Since our founding in 1982, we have provided over $2,000,000 in scholarship and financial hardship assistance to citizens of Northern New Jersey.

Our organization provides scholarships for students from $1,000 to $5,000 annually. In addition, the Columbians often provide ongoing financial support to college students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and financial need.

Although consideration for our scholarship award is available to all senior students residing in Bergen or Passaic County, we are particularly interested in students who not only demonstrate excellence in academics, extracurricular activities, service to their community, and financial need but also demonstrate an interest in Italian heritage, art, music, or culture.

Applications must be fully completed and received by May 1, 2026. We cannot consider incomplete applications or those not received on time.

Celebrating the Italian Culture

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANT

1. All questions must be answered. If the answer is none, so indicate.

2. YOU MUST USE THE FORM PROVIDED TO RESPOND. ESSAYS MUST BE TYPED. You may paste your essay or use a separate piece of paper. Do not exceed the space provided or half a page using separate paper.

3. Print legibly or type all other answers.

4. Please supply one (1) reference letter with the completed application.

5. Please read carefully and sign the final page with all required signatures.

6. Forward the following to the address below:

a. completed application;

b. reference letter;

c. Proof of financial need (either a copy of your parent’s IRS Form 1040, including schedules A & B from the most recent year, or the FAFSA Submission Summary. PLEASE REDACT ANY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS;

d. Transcript (unofficial is acceptable); and

e. SAT / ACT Score Report (pdf from College Board).

7. Do not use binders or staples; clip all papers to the application.

8. Mail the completed application and correspondence to the address below.

YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE RETURNED. MAKE COPIES FOR YOUR RECORDS. NOTIFICATION OF AWARDS TO APPLICANTS WILL BE MADE BY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION ONLY. NO CALLS, PLEASE.