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About

About Columbia University in the City of New York

ivy league universityhighly selective admissionsvery high research activitylow student faculty ratio

Columbia University in the City of New York is a private research university in New York, NY, known for its ivy league university and low student faculty ratio. With an acceptance rate of 4%, Columbia is one of the most selective colleges in the United States, typically enrolling around 1,540 students each year. Admitted students typically score between 1510–1560 on the SAT and 34–36 on the ACT. Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated financial need and has replaced loans with grants; for families earning under $150,000, the net cost is often $0.

Admissions

Columbia University in the City of New York acceptance rate and admitted student profile

one of the most selective colleges in the United States

4%
Overall Accept Rate
1535
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1510 – 1560

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ACTScore range: 34 – 36

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ED advantage at Columbia University in the City of New York: ED acceptance rate is 13% vs 4% regular decision, more than double. If Columbia University in the City of New Yorkis your first choice and you've confirmed the financial fit, Early Decision is one of the highest-leverage decisions you can make.

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to Columbia University in the City of New York

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
Columbia's "Why Columbia" essay is really asking why you want to spend four years in the Core Curriculum, so name specific Core texts or seminars like Literature Humanities or Contemporary Civilization and explain how they connect to questions you are already wrestling with intellectually.
Essay Strategy
The "list" short answer prompts at Columbia reward genuine specificity, so instead of naming famous professors or landmarks, point to a particular seminar, student organization, or neighborhood institution in Morningside Heights that connects directly to your actual interests.

Get a tailored strategy for Columbia University in the City of New York. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What Columbia University in the City of New York actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Loan-free financial aid: Columbia University in the City of New York has replaced all loans with grants. For families earning under $150,000, the average net annual cost is $0. Columbia University in the City of New York's sticker price of ~$82k/year bears almost no resemblance to what most families pay.
Family IncomeSticker PriceAvg. Net Cost / yr
0-30kOften $0~$82k/yr~$0 / yr
30k-48kOften $0~$82k/yr~$0 / yr
48k-75kOften $0~$82k/yr~$0 / yr
75k-110k~$82k/yr$11.8k
110k+~$82k/yr$50.6k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

95%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$89k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
6:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
9,547
Undergrad Enrollment

Student Body

Student body composition

Race & Ethnicity

29%White
20%International
19%Asian
15%Hispanic
8%Black / African American
6%Two or More Races
3%Unknown / Unreported
0%American Indian / AK Native
0%Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
Gender50% Men · 50% Women
Citizenship / Immigration Status80% Citizens and Immigrants · 20% International