Columbia University
2960 Broadway, New York NY 10027
Columbia University is a private university in NY, founded in 1754, and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. Columbia University is a hyper-selective school, accepting 5.9% of applicants. Its athletics teams compete at the club, intramural, and varsity levels, and the university employs 2,741 full-time instructional staff with a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
98
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants can apply to Columbia University through the Coalition Application, the Common Application, or the QuestBridge Application (for those who qualify). Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application and will also be required to answer specific questions pertaining to the university.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Decision Application Deadline
November 1st
Regular Decision Application Deadline
January 1st
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Extracurricular Activities - Very Important
- Character/Personal Qualities - Very Important
- Application Essay - Very Important
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
Average Acceptance Rate
3.70%
Empowerly Acceptance Rate
20.00%
STUDENT LIFE
Many of Columbia’s students live on campus and genuinely enjoy life on the school’s 36 acres in the urban Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City’s Upper West Side. The always-trendsetting area is home to Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, and some of the best coffee shops for fuel when studying. There is a lot to do on campus, too. The school has the nation’s top-ranking and oldest fencing programs founded in the 1800s and has taken Columbia University to the Olympics. Interested in another activity? Columbia students have over 500 clubs and organizations to choose from, like martial arts, broadcasting on its quarter-century-old radio station, and the innovative year-round Columbia Arts Initiative.
Housing
- 92% of students live on campus
- Freshmen are required to live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
First-year students at Columbia must live on campus. All students have the assurance of four consecutive years of student housing if they choose to take it. Since 92% of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, the school ensures that the accommodations are comfortable and safe, with more than thirty undergraduate residence halls to choose from. While Greek life has a more prominent role on other campuses, Columbia only sees a quarter of its undergraduates currently participating in it. Most students prefer staying in the residence halls for their social atmosphere and the opportunity to participate in the school’s one-of-a-kind traditions. It includes the annual “Orgo Night” (Organic Chemistry final eve), the performance-based “The Varsity Show” that dates back to 1894, and the ever-popular Columbia tree lighting ceremony.
Life as a Student
The school’s multifaceted campus and residential community make life as a Columbia Lion a fresh experience. Days can be jam-packed with the college’s highly lauded core curriculum classes designed to give all students a well-rounded education before they graduate. There are over 80 different fields to focus on as a major or minor, including Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Engineering, and Visual and Performing Arts. You will enjoy an unparalleled 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Don’t forget to make room for on-campus groups and other extracurriculars, including activism, performing arts, religion, etc. Exciting events are always happening on campus, from prominent guest speakers to specific interest exhibitions. Of course, with Manhattan only a 20-minute subway ride away, you’d never run out of things to explore as a Columbia student!
TOP MAJORS
Economics
Computer Science
Political Science and Government
Research and Experimental Psychology
History
English
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Fencing
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rowing
Rugby
Soccer
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Water Polo
Wrestling
Cross-Country Running
Archery
Basketball
Crew
Fencing
Field Hockey
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rowing
Rugby
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Triathlon
Archery
Badminton
Equestrian Sports
Rock Climbing
Sailing
Skiing (Downhill)
Tennis
Table Tennis
Triathlon
Archery
Badminton
Equestrian Sports
Rock Climbing
Sailing
Skiing (Downhill)
Tennis
Table Tennis
Intramural
Intramural
Basketball
Racquetball
Soccer
Squash
Volleyball
Basketball
Racquetball
Soccer
Squash
Volleyball
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Columbia University meets 100% of demonstrated need for all first-year and transfer students pursuing their first degree and parents with calculated incomes below $60,000 a year and typical assets are expected to contribute $0 towards their children’s Columbia education.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ based on your circumstances.
- Tuition and Fees - $63,530
- Room and Board - $15,450
- Books and Personal - $3,604
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance - $82,584
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
Columbia University was founded in 1754 in New York City. Along with being the oldest institution of higher education in New York state, it is also the fifth oldest in the entire United States. It was initially founded as King’s College because of its royal charter from King George II of Great Britain. While the American Revolution shut down the school for eight years, starting in 1776, its spirit persisted thanks to its influential early students and trustees. This prestigious group includes the first U.S. secretary of state, Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. chief justice John Jay, and one of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence, Robert R. Livingston.
Columbia College was renamed so after the revolution in 1784. Then, it became Columbia University in 1896, the same year the school moved to its present location in Morningside Heights. Thanks to its academic, athletic, and research strengths, Columbia is considered one of the eight prestigious Ivy League colleges in the U.S., alongside Princeton, Harvard, and Yale. Columbia has been described by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Columbia alumnus Herman Wouk as a place where “the best things of all human history and thought were inside the rectangle [of Columbia].” The school experienced much student activism during the 1960s, which marked significant changes, including establishing its university-wide government, the University Senate.
Besides its rich history, Columbia University today also ranks #3 among National Universities and #6 in Best Global Universities according to U.S. News Best Colleges. It has an undergraduate enrollment of 8,148 and a graduate enrollment of 21,987, leading to a highly selective 6% acceptance rate. Like its Ivy League peers, Columbia highly prizes academics. However, the school also heavily encourages intellectual diversity. Since its beginning, Columbia has always stood apart from other top universities in many facets. Columbia offers “core classes” known for their small sizes (22 students per class). At the same time, its highly respected school of engineering encompasses an attractive 50/50 balance of humanities and technical courses. Noteworthy Columbia University alumni include composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, U.S. President Barack Obama, and presidential daughter Chelsea Clinton, who currently teaches grad school there.