Acceptance Rate
4%
Avg. SAT
1580
75th percentile
“Manhattan's urban Ivy where first-years debate Plato amid skyscrapers and subway rhythms.”
New York, NY
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
Columbia traces its roots to 1754, when it opened as King's College under a charter from King George II, making it the fifth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Nestled in Morningside Heights, its compact campus punches above its size thanks to New York City's endless energy, blending ivy-covered quads with Harlem jazz clubs and Central Park just blocks away. Students who thrive here crave intellectual intensity and urban pulse—self-starters who juggle seminars with internships—but those seeking small-town camaraderie or vast green spaces might feel hemmed in by the concrete jungle and relentless pace.
Photo Gallery
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
At the heart of Columbia beats the Core Curriculum, a two-year sequence where you'll wrestle with canonical texts from Homer to Virginia Woolf in small seminars capped at 22, fostering debate over lectures. The 6-to-1 student-faculty ratio means professors like Nobel economists or Pulitzer journalists often teach undergrads, while research labs in neuroscience and climate science pull in ambitious sophomores. Tradeoffs include massive intro lectures in sciences that feel impersonal and fierce competition for spots in selective programs like creative writing or financial economics.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
9,164 undergrad • 26,009 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
25%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
9%
Asian
13%
Other / Multi-racial
48%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
New York, NY
Varsity Athletics
Campus life pulses with New York flair: you'll navigate 30-plus residence halls from Gothic towers to modern lounges, where late-night study sessions spill into Miller Theatre jazz shows or Tree Lighting ceremonies that draw celebrities. Traditions like the Varsity Show—student-written musical satire since 1909—keep humor alive amid activism rallies and career fairs. The social scene skews professional and diverse, with finance mixers alongside poetry slams, but city distractions, sky-high living costs, and safety vigilance outside the gates test your focus.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
-$3,429
$30K – $48K
-$5,227
$48K – $75K
-$4,069
$75K – $110K
$9,939
$110K+
$40,584
Apply for Financial Aid
Complete the FAFSA to unlock grants, scholarships, and federal loans.
Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
98%
4 Years Graduation Rate
84%
6 Years Graduation Rate
92%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$102,491
98% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Columbia University in the City of New York and return in the fall. 84% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 92% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
84%
4-5 years
8%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
7%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$61,989
Acceptance
4%
Undergrads
9,164
4-Year Grad Rate
84%
Endowment
$10.3B
New York, NY 10027
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