Columbia University is a private research university known for its academics, placements, and international student percentage. There are more than 17,000 international students at Columbia. In fall 2021, it saw an enrollment of 1,134 Indian students at the graduate level. As an ‘Ivy League’ institution that's located in NY, Columbia’s cost of attendance is high-end. The annual tuition fees for Columbia University courses is around 58.2 Lakhs INR.
Acceptance rate of Columbia University is approximately 6%, making it one of the most selective universities in the world. To secure admission at Columbia University in a graduate program, an international student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. However, the competition for admission is intense, as more than 90% of the admitted students were in the top 10% of their graduating class, resulting in an average GPA of 3.6 for admitted students.
The most enrolled PG programs at Columbia are of Fu Foundation of Engineering & Applied Science with 3,043 international students. Followed by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences with 2,465 international students. Among Columbia University's notable alumni are a number of prominent Indians, such as business titan Ratan Tata, former McKinsey CEO Rajat Gupta, and renowned journalist Barkha Dutt.
Columbia University Highlights
Likes
- Prestigious Alumni: The university has a history of high achievers including 4 presidents, 46 Olympians, 84 Nobel prize winners, over 90 Pulitzer prize winners, and many celebrities.
- Placements: 33% of Columbia graduates earned a full-time job in the Technology, Telecom & Internet sector. Around 26% of the graduates were hired in financial services by companies like Berenberg Capital Markets, Biz2Credit, etc.
- Top Recruiting Companies: Some of the top recruiters for Columbia are Amazon, ByteDance, Dell, eBay, Facebook, Intuit, and Vivo. know more about Columbia placements here!
- Student Friendly Location: The subway station and a major bus stop are right outside the gate of Columbia University which makes traveling pretty convenient for all students.
Dislikes
- Campus Size: The main campus of Columbia University is very small- 35 acres in comparison to New York University 230 acres or Yale with over 373 acres.
- Cost of Attendance: The University is one of the most expensive universities in USA with an average cost of attendance of 74.87 lakhs which includes tuition fees and cost of living of 58.26 lakhs and 16.61 lakhs respectively.
- Expensive Accommodation: Living on campus is an option, but the number of dorms is limited, plus it’s quite expensive. The average cost per year is about 7.11 lakhs per year.
Columbia University Rankings
Columbia University is ranked among the top 25 Universities in the world. According to QS World University Rankings 2023, the university is ranked #22. Some of the other rankings achieved by Columbia University are:
| Ranking Agency | Ranking 2023 |
|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings | #22 |
| Best Global Universities US News | #7 |
| World University Rankings THE | #11 |
| National Universities US News | #18 |
Columbia University Ranking Comparison
The university ranked #7 in the US this year. It has a consistent presence near the top of the world rankings over the past decade. The university ranks well across all the indicators, beating NYU by a small margin in three categories: research impact, learning experience, and employability. US News Subject ranking of some of the top-ranked subjects of Columbia University v/s New York University are mentioned below:
| Subject | Columbia Ranking | NYU Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | #4 | #3 |
| Marketing | #7 | #10 |
| Contracts/Commercial Law | #1 | #4 |
| Psychiatry | #2 | #9 |
| Computer Science | #11 | #38 |
| Economics | #9 | #11 |
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Acceptance Rate at Columbia University
Columbia's admissions process is extremely selective, with a 7% overall acceptance rate. Out of 42,500+ freshmen who applied for 2023, only 2,247 were given admission. Mentioned below are the acceptance rate of Columbia University according to the various schools :
| College | Average Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Columbia College | 3.9% |
| Graduate School of Arts and Sciences | 28% |
| School of General Studies | 35% |
| Columbia Business School | 7% |
| Columbia Law School | 11.3% |
Columbia University Admission Process
The admissions process at Columbia is a holistic one, which means that all parts of the application help inform our evaluation. Columbia does not have a "cut-off" GPA or test score for admission, and academics are considered alongside the full application. Columbia university offers admission for two intakes – fall and spring. Fall intake is the most favored intake by international students.
Columbia University UG Admission
| Category | Admission Requirements |
|---|---|
| Application | Coalition Application or Common Application. |
| Application Fee | 85 USD (~6,700 INR) |
| Average GPA | GPA of 3.5 or 95% |
| English Proficiency Requirements | TOEFL iBT: 100 | IELTS: 7.0 |
| Standardized Test Scores | SAT: 1440–1570 | ACT: 34–35 |
| Additional Requirements | Personal essay | Letter of recommendation | Completed Mid-year report | Statement of Purpose |
Columbia University PG Admission
| Category | Admission Requirements |
|---|---|
| Application | Application Portal |
| Application Fee | PG: USD 85-120 (~6,967- 9,836 INR) | MBA: 250 USD (20,492 INR) |
| Average GPA | GPA of 3.0 or 85% |
| English Proficiency Requirements | TOEFL iBT: 100 | IELTS: 7.5 |
| Standardized Test Scores | GMAT Range: 700–760 |
| Additional Requirements | Statement of Purpose | Resume | Letter of Recommendation | Work Experience (Avg. 5 years) |
Columbia University Cost of Attendance
According to the Columbia Chronicle, full-time students will notice a 2% increase in Columbia tuition fees and housing costs for the third time in a row this fall. The cost of attendance at the university can even add up to 70,000 USD per year for some courses. The following is a detailed estimate of the cost of attending Columbia for the upcoming academic year:
Columbia University Fees
The most expensive school at Columbia University is Columbia Business School with an average annual fee of 58.26 lakhs. Mentioned below are the average tuition fees of different schools at Columbia University.
Columbia University Cost of Living
| Category | Annual Cost in USD | Annual Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 13,405 | 7.79 lakhs |
| Dining | 6,973 | 4.05 lakhs |
| Books & Supplies | 1,358 | 1.05 lakhs |
| Transportation | 1,381 | 0.80 lakhs |
| Personal Expenses | 2,673 | 1.55 lakhs |
| Health Insurance | 4,030 | 64.33 lakhs |
Columbia University Campus
The Columbia University campus covers over 36 acres in the heart of Manhattan, making it one of the largest and most beautiful campuses in New York City. The university's location in New York City provides numerous opportunities for internships and other professional experiences. Many international students take advantage of these opportunities to gain valuable work experience and make connections in their fields.
- Over 500 clubs and organizations are available to explore, with help from departments such as Student Engagement, Multicultural Affairs, and Residential Programs.
- Several buildings on the campus are listed as National Historic Landmarks, including the Philosophy Hall or ‘the site of the invention of the FM radio’.
- Acquiring more than 6 city blocks, the Morningside Heights campus is spread over an area of 32 acres with other institutional centers nearby.
- Manhattanville has been added to the university campuses since 2008 and cloaks about 17 acres of the city area.
- Stretched over 8 streets, the campus houses Columbia Business School, Jerome L. Greene Center, and School of International and Public Affairs buildings.
Source@https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/
Columbia University Accommodation
Most of the Columbia dorms are located in the Morningside Heights and Manhattan Valley neighborhoods. The university also has residence halls within 20 minutes from the campus, in Riverdale. At Columbia, 92% of the students live in college-owned, operated, or affiliated housing and 8% of students live off-campus. The average annual rent for international students in mentioned below:
| Accommodation Type | Cost in USD/Semester | Cost in INR/Semester |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | 11,659- 12,868 | 9.56 lakhs- 10.55 lakhs |
| 2 Bedroom Share | 7,015- 8,058 | 5.75 lakhs- 6.60 lakhs |
| 3 Bedroom Share | 6,873- 7,437 | 5.63 lakhs- 610 lakhs |
| Suite | 5,774- 6,960 | 4.73 lakhs- 5.70 lakhs |
| Studio | 8,486- 11,215 | 6.96 lakhs- 9.19 lakhs |
Off-Campus Accommodation
In addition to Columbia University housing, services are available for Columbia students who are interested in accommodation that is not owned or run by the University, as well as sublets available directly from tenants in Columbia housing. The Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) division assists students and affiliates in their search for rented housing in the metropolitan region.
| Accommodation | Average Rent (USD/Year) | Average Rent (INR/Year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | 9,612 | 7.84 lakhs |
| 2 Bedroom | 6,347 | 5.18 lakhs |
| 3 Bedroom | 5,767 | 4.70 lakhs |
| 4 Bedroom | 5,715 | 4.66 lakhs |
Also Check: Student accommodation in USA
Columbia University Scholarships
Columbia’s financial aid package includes several options for those who are looking for scholarships to study in the US. Popular scholarships for international students include -
| Scholarship | Availability | Application | Amount award(in INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helen Lansdowne Resor Scholarship | Available to women enrolled in Architecture, Business, Communication, etc. | Required | 7.55 lakhs |
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships | Minimum 55% in bachelor’s program; At least 3+ years of work experience; Community service experience | Required | Tuition fees; partial living expenses; Healthcare expenses |
| Business Studies Scholarship | Available to Management, Economics, and Marketing students | Not Required | 1.50 lakhs |
| Northwest IB Scholarship | Offered to the first 20 IB School Graduates | Not Required | 0.75 lakhs |
| International Merit Scholarship | Available to International freshmen students | Required | Upto 2.26 lakhs |
| Debesh-Kamal Scholarship for Higher Studies | Below 30 years of age; Preferably enrolling in social science or related program | Required | 1 lakh |
Work While Study at Columbia University
Work-study programs, part-time positions in university departments, internships both on and off-campus, and teaching or research assistantships are all available to the students. Each school's Career Center prepares graduating students for the employment market. The Federal Work-Study program is a form of financial assistance provided to students through part-time employment.
Once You've Found an on-campus job at Columbia University. An international student must follow the steps mentioned below.
Step 1: Apply for a Social Security Number
Step 2: Complete an I-9 Employment Verification Authorization Form
Furthermore, there are several country-specific outside scholarships for international students. There are plenty of funding options for Indian students in USA and other countries.
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Columbia University Alumni
The Columbia Alumni Association has a separate portal dedicated to the health and betterment of the varsity alumni. With over 350,000 alumni population registered in the network, the university spares no effort to help its former students in any way it can. Some of the alumni benefits are –
- Insurance teamed up nationwide to offer special savings on a wide range of insurance and financial solutions.
- Discounted shopping for books at the University Press
- Alumni and guests have access to on-campus accommodations at International House, Teachers College, and off-campus at the university Club of New York
- Access to Alumni Bookshelf to browse books written by fellow alumni
- Browsing and reading privilege at Columbia Libraries
- Free subscription to Columbia Magazine
- Free transcripts access from the Office of Registrar
- Columbia Facilities access like Dodge fitness center, St. Paul’s Chapel, faculty house
Columbia University Notable Alumni
Columbia has graduated four US former Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Barack Obama. As of the 2022 awards, 99 Nobel laureates were alumni or faculty members at Columbia University. Some of Columbia University's notable alumni are:
| Alumni Name | Profession | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| B.R. Ambedkar | Economist, Social Reformer, Politician, and Jurist | Founding Father of the Constitution of India |
| Rajat Gupta | Business Executive | Former CEO of McKinsey & Company |
| Barack Obama | Politician, Author, and Attorney | 44th President of the United States |
| Jake Gyllenhaal | Actor and Film Producer | Academy Award-nominated actor |
| Amelia Earhart | Aviation Pioneer and Author | First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean |
| Vikram Pandit | Business Executive | Former CEO of Citigroup |
| Warren Buffett | Business Magnate, Investor, and Philanthropist | CEO of Berkshire Hathaway |
| Barkha Dutt | Journalist and Television Personality | Consulting Editor of NDTV |
| Madhu Trehan | Journalist and Founder of News Website | Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Newslaundry |
Columbia University Placements
The university has one of the best placement counseling facilities. Almost 95% of graduates of Columbia University get employed right after graduation. Some of the most recent data points and statistics about the university graduates' placements are as follows:
- 6,436 total 1 on 1 career counseling sessions in 2022
- 401 events, programs, and workshops sponsored by CCE in 2022
- 574 students have interned abroad as part of our Columbia Experience Overseas (CEO) programs
- 97.8% of Columbia College and Columbia Engineering - Undergrad degree earners had at least 1 internship during their time at the university
- USD 80,000 (~63.7 lakhs) median starting salary for working graduates of Columbia College and Columbia Engineering - Undergrad
- Gender ratio
Also Check: High paying jobs in USA
Source@Columbia University
Columbia MBA graduates found full-time positions in a wide range of businesses and function around the world through on-campus recruiting, skilled networking, and job postings. The top three reasons given by the Class of 2022 for accepting an offer were firm culture and people (15.1%), job content (14.6%), and advancement opportunities (13.0%).
Columbia University is divided into twenty schools, four of which are undergraduate and 16 of which are graduate. Columbia is the oldest higher education institution in New York and the fifth-oldest in the United States. It is one of nine colonial colleges founded before the Declaration of Independence, seven of which are Ivy League institutions.
FAQs
Ques. Is Columbia University difficult to get into?
Ans. The university received more than 40,000 international applications. Out of these, 2,214 applicants received admissions in undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs. The undergraduate student body is composed of 21% of international students, belonging to 152 countries.
Ques. Is Columbia an Ivy League?
Ans. Yes, Columbia University is an Ivy League university, ranking among the top 20 universities in the United States and around the world. It is well-known for its dedication to academic excellence and for its extremely selective admissions.
Ques. What is the application deadline for Columbia University?
Ans. The basic deadlines at Columbia University for international students are:
| Deadline Type | Fall Intake | Spring Intake |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Early Action | Mid- January | Early September |
| Early Action | Early March | Early October |
| Regular Decision | Early June | Early November |
Ques. What is Columbia University Class Profile 2023?
Ans. As per the class profiles of 2023 and 2024, 95% of the students who have been granted admission ranked in the top 10% of their recent/previous education. the 2023 class profile had average SAT score of 1480-1560 whereas 33-35 ACT score range.
Ques. Does Columbia University accept the GRE or GMAT for admission?
Ans. Yes, Columbia University accepts both GRE and GMAT scores for graduate admission. Applicants must first determine which tests are accepted and then attempt only one of them before submitting their scores for admission.
Ques. Does Columbia University require English proficiency test?
Ans. Mentioned below are the language proficiency exams accepted by Columbia University along with their minimum required scores:
| Exam | Minimum Score Requirements |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 100 |
| Duolingo | 120 |
| IELTS | 7.0 |
Ques. Is there any application fee for Columbia University?
Ans. Application fee varies as per courses: For undergraduate and postgraduate it is 85 USD (~0.07 lakhs) while that of MBA at Columbia it is 250 USD (~0.19 lakhs).
Ques. Are scholarships available for international students at Columbia University?
Ans. Columbia welcomes students from all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds. It is dedicated to supporting students in need. The average financial aid award received by international students is USD 66,350 i.e ~52.83 lakhs.
Ques. What are popular programs at Columbia University?
Ans. The most popular programs at Columbia include: Computer Sciences; Engineering; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Visual and Performing Arts.
Ques. What are the requirements to get accepted into Columbia University?
Ans. Admission applications to Columbia University are considered complete if the applicant is able to complete the checklist before submitting them. Some application checklist items will vary by program, however the general requirements are as follows?
- Essay questions
- Professional Resume/CV
- Quantitative & Language Resume/CV
- Letters of Recommendation (2 required and 1 optional for all programs; MPA-ESP requires 3 letters)
- Academic Transcripts (undergraduate and beyond)
- GRE/GMAT (optional in 2022)
- English Standardized Test Scores
- Optional Fellowship Essays (Essay prompts vary per program, but all applicants are eligible for select fellowships if they apply by the respective fellowship deadlines.)
- Pay Application Fee
Ques. Are there any exceptions for not submitting ELP scores to Columbia University's Graduate School?
Ans. If the applicants have completed an undergraduate degree where English is the medium of instruction or studied at Columbia University at the undergraduate level, they can request a waiver by completing the 'English Proficiency Waiver Request Form.'
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