Columbia University
Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in Manhattan's Morningside Heights, defined by its rigorous Core Curriculum — a shared sequence of literature, philosophy, science, and art that every undergraduate completes — and by the resources of New York City as an extended campus. Admission is among the most selective in the country: Columbia admitted about 3.9% of more than 60,000 applicants and enrolled roughly 1,483 first-years, 94% of whom ranked in the top tenth of their high school class. Columbia is test-optional and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. The figures below are drawn directly from Columbia's official Common Data Set.
See how Columbia compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Columbia admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Columbia offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~4.7× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Columbia is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Columbia's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 25.7% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Columbia does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Columbia weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Columbia's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Columbia application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Columbia and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Columbia admissions
Is it hard to get into Columbia?＋
Yes, Columbia is one of the most selective universities in the country. It admitted about 3.9% of applicants in the most recent cycle, offering admission to roughly 2,325 of more than 60,000 applicants and enrolling about 1,483 first-years. Admission is holistic, and 94% of enrolled first-years who reported a class rank were in the top tenth of their graduating class.
What is Columbia's acceptance rate, and does applying early help?＋
Columbia's overall acceptance rate is about 3.9% (roughly 2,325 admits from more than 60,000 applicants). Applying through Columbia's binding Early Decision plan carries better odds: it admitted 795 of 6,007 early applicants, an Early Decision rate of about 13%, well above the regular pool. Early Decision is binding, so you commit to enrolling if admitted.
What GPA and class rank do you need to get into Columbia?＋
Columbia does not report an average GPA for admitted students; instead it reports high school class rank. About 94% of enrolled first-years who submitted a rank placed in the top tenth of their class, and essentially all were in the top quarter. Columbia weighs the rigor of your course load, your GPA, and your class rank all as very important factors in its holistic review.
Is a 1500 SAT good enough for Columbia?＋
A 1500 is right at the edge of Columbia's range and worth submitting. Among enrolled first-years who sent scores, the middle 50% scored about 1510-1560 on the SAT (34-36 on the ACT), so a 1500 sits just below the 25th percentile. Columbia is test-optional, so applicants who don't submit scores are not disadvantaged.
Is Columbia test-optional, and should I submit my scores?＋
Yes, Columbia is test-optional, so you may apply without submitting an SAT or ACT. If you do submit, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored about 1510-1560 on the SAT and 34-36 on the ACT. Standardized test scores are listed as only 'considered' in Columbia's admissions review, well below academics, essays, and recommendations, which are very important.
How much does Columbia cost, and does it meet financial need?＋
Columbia's full-year tuition is about $70,170, with required fees, food, and housing adding roughly $22,000 more (about $25,000 once books and personal expenses are included). Most families pay far less: Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, about 49% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, and the average need-based aid package for first-years is roughly $78,824.
What is Columbia known for, and what are its most popular majors?＋
Columbia is an Ivy League research university in Manhattan known for its Core Curriculum, a shared sequence of literature, philosophy, science, and art that every undergraduate completes. The most popular area of study is the social sciences at about 20% of degrees, followed by computer science (17%) and engineering (14%), with biological sciences, mathematics, and the visual and performing arts also well represented.
Does the application essay matter at Columbia?＋
Yes. Columbia rates the application essay as a very important factor in its holistic review, alongside the rigor of your record, GPA, recommendations, extracurriculars, and character, and above standardized test scores, which are only 'considered.' With an admit rate near 3.9%, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways a strong applicant can stand out.
Source: Columbia University Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Columbia. Banner photo by Ajay Suresh, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).