In order to be eligible for the Higher Education Opportunity Program as a transfer, you must currently be enrolled at a similar program in New York State.
Opportunity Programs
I am interested in your HEOP program. As a transfer, am I eligible for the program?
What is the process for being selected through the Higher Education Opportunity Program or the National Opportunity Program?
The Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) was established by the New York State Legislature in 1969 to assist eligible residents in obtaining higher education at New York private institutions. The National Opportunity Program was created by Columbia in 1986 to provide the same kind of academic and financial support to students from all over the United States. Selection for the HEOP/NOP programs at Columbia involves meeting both academic and economic guidelines.
There are no additional application forms for HEOP/NOP; all eligible applicants to Columbia will be considered for these programs. Applicants may be contacted for a telephone or in-person interview by a member of the Opportunity Programs and Undergraduate Services (OPUS) staff.
In order to be eligible for HEOP, applicants must:
- Reside in New York State and be high school graduates.
- Demonstrate (through academic records) a need for HEOP support services.
- Meet economic eligibility criteria set by the New York State Education Department.
Economic documentation for HEOP and NOP
HEOP/NOP Economic Eligibility: Household income can be at or below the amounts listed for the number of family members, with the exception of the “single head of household” instruction.
Size of Household | Amount |
| 1 household member | $20,665 |
| 2 household members | $27,991 |
| 3 household members | $35,317 |
| 4 household members | $42,643 |
| 5 household members | $49,969 |
| 6 household members | $57,295 |
| 7 household members | $64,621 plus $7,326 for each additional family member thereafter |
Please contact the Academic Success Program at 212-854-3514 or asp@columbia.edu with further questions or concerns.