Admissions

Thank you for your interest in the Tompkins Hall Nursery & Childcare Center! We are delighted to support your child and family throughout the admissions process. Our main admissions cycle for the following school year starts in October of the previous year. Tuition rates for the 2027-2028 year will be available in November of 2026.

We are admitting students for the 2026 to 2027 year on a rolling basis. Please contact us at [email protected] with any enrollment questions. You can schedule a tour here.

Admissions Information: 2027–2028 School Year

At Tompkins Hall Early Childhood Center at Columbia University, we welcome families who share our commitment to creating a warm, inclusive, and developmentally rich environment for young children. Our program serves children from infancy through Pre-Kindergarten and offers play-based, inquiry-driven learning that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.

Admissions Priority

Tompkins Hall gives priority consideration to active Columbia University affiliates, including faculty, researchers, staff, and students. Priority consideration also includes current Tompkins Hall families, eligible siblings, and children of current Tompkins Hall staff. We also welcome applications from non-Columbia-affiliated families, with admission offered based on space availability.

How to Apply

1. Attend a Parent Tour (Virtual or In Person)

Learn about our philosophy, curriculum, and daily life at Tompkins Hall.

2. Submit the Online Application

Complete the application form and pay the non-refundable $50 application fee.

3. Apply for Financial Aid, if needed

Families seeking financial aid must complete the financial aid application by the deadline for their admissions timeline. Our school access code on Clarity is 5391.

Age Requirements

Infants: 3 months–12 months as of September 1, 2027

Toddlers: 1–2 years old as of September 1, 2027

Twos Program: Must be 2 years old by September 1, 2027

Threes/Pre-K: Must be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2027

Early Notification

Early Notification is available to qualifying families, including:

  • Current Tompkins Hall families
  • Eligible siblings
  • Children of current Tompkins Hall staff
  • Children of active Columbia University affiliates

Financial Aid Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Early Notification Date: No earlier than 12:00 noon, Wednesday, December 9, 2026

Early Parent Reply Deadline: No later than 12:00 noon, Wednesday, December 16, 2026

Families accepting an Early Notification offer must return the signed enrollment contract and a $2,000 non-refundable deposit by the reply deadline to secure their child’s spot. The deposit is applied toward tuition. If the contract and deposit are not received by the deadline, the application will move to the General Admissions timeline, pending space availability.

General Admissions

General Admissions is available to non-Columbia University affiliates.

Applications and Financial Aid Open: September 2026

Financial Aid Application Deadline: Tuesday, December 15, 2026

Application File Completion Deadline: Friday, January 8, 2027

Notification Date: No earlier than 8:00 a.m., Thursday, February 25, 2027

Parent Reply Deadline: No later than 12:00 noon, Thursday, March 4, 2027

Financial Aid

Families can apply for financial aid at https://app.clarityapp.com/sign-up. Our school access code on Clarity is 5391. 

Financial aid applications are reviewed separately from admissions applications. Financial aid awards are shared with admissions decisions so families have award information before making an enrollment decision.

In-Person and Virtual Tours 

Tours  are offered from September 2026 through June 2027. Families will have the opportunity to learn about the program, ask questions, and visit Tompkins Hall.  You can schedule a parent tour  here.