Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · NortheastQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rate

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 740–777 (fall 2024: 740–780)Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 760–800 (fall 2024: 770–800)Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2027 applicants: Test scores recommended (fall 2024: Test-optional)Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 98.2% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 98.0%)Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 20 applicants admitted

Columbia admits about 1 in 20 applicants (4.9%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

4.9%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

59,611

Admitted

2,946

Yield

61%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

4.25

weighted

SAT middle 50%

1510–1560

10001600

ACT middle 50%

34–35

1836

Applications +82% since fall 2014 · admit rate 7.0% → 4.0%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 8,973 undergrads, where 23% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

undergrads · larger than 87% of colleges

Diversity index

0.81

Pell Grant

23%

below the median

First generation

25%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I FCS · Ivy GroupROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.77 → 0.81 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (15% of graduates). 6 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 95% of colleges. 43% of faculty are full-time. Spends $110,371 a year on instruction per student.

6 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 95% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $54,653 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $30.4K more than the national median. The 52% who received grants paid $22,520 on average; the other 48% paid the full sticker price of $89,587.

39%

$54.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $30.4K above the national median

Full price: $89,587 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: None; all grants are need-based

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 39% of full price

Federal loans

14%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −5% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $102,491 ten years after enrolling, more than at 98% of colleges; 93% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.1 years of that salary.

93%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$102.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$21.5K

≈ $228/month for 10 years

Retention

98%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 95% → 96% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 5%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 82% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 7.0% to 4.0%.

Cost
Falling
−5% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+82%
Selectivity
Steady
admit rate 7% → 4% (to fall 2024)
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.77 → 0.81

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Yale University

3.9% admit · SAT 1520 · 6.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

Compare side-by-side

Vanderbilt University

5.4% admit · SAT 1535 · 7.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Stanford University

3.6% admit · SAT 1550 · 7.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

Compare side-by-side

University of Southern California

11% admit · SAT 1505 · 20.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26
Columbia University in the City of New York · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); Fall 2026 entrants; 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Columbia University in the City of New York (2026–27)
Columbia University in the City of New York · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 190150 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything