Admission requirements and costs at a glance
Columbia University is a private nonprofit university in New York, New York, founded in 1754. It is a mid-sized institution with roughly 8,900 undergraduates on an urban campus, a student-faculty ratio of 6:1 and a six-year graduation rate of about 96%.
Admission is extremely selective: the university admits fewer than one applicant in ten, with a reported acceptance rate near 3.9%. Students who enrol typically present SAT scores in the 1490-1570 range or ACT results of 34-35. Those ranges describe the middle half of enrolled students, which means a quarter of them scored below the lower figure — a score outside the range does not by itself decide an application.
Published tuition is about $68,400 per year and applies to every student regardless of the state they live in, which is the normal pattern at private universities. The figure excludes housing, food, books and fees, and institutional aid frequently reduces it substantially — run the university's net price calculator before treating it as the price you would pay.
Test policy: Test-optional. Submit scores only if they sit at or above the enrolled range shown above; otherwise apply without them and let the transcript carry the file. Note that merit scholarships and honours colleges sometimes keep a score requirement the admission office has dropped.
The regular application deadline is January 1, with an early round on November 1 (Early Decision, binding). The application fee is $85, and fee waivers are available for applicants with documented financial need.
Columbia University is institutionally accredited by MSCHE, which is what makes its credits transferable and its students eligible for federal financial aid. Our guide to accreditation in the United States explains how to verify this independently and why programme-level accreditation matters separately for licensed fields.
Key facts
| Location | New York, New York |
|---|---|
| Control | Private nonprofit |
| Founded | 1754 |
| Campus setting | Urban |
| Undergraduates | 8,900 |
| Total enrolment | 33,000 |
| Acceptance rate | 3.9% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1490-1570 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 34-35 |
| Test policy | Test-optional |
| Tuition, in-state | $68,400 |
| Tuition, out-of-state | $68,400 |
| Application fee | $85 |
| Regular deadline | January 1 |
| Early deadline | November 1 (Early Decision, binding) |
| Graduation rate | 96% |
| Student-faculty ratio | 6:1 |
| Institutional accreditor | MSCHE |
Editorial estimates, reviewed 2026-09-20. Official source: https://www.columbia.edu
Commonly chosen programmes
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Political Science
- Engineering
Programme availability, prerequisites and internal admission standards differ from the university-wide figures above. Competitive majors such as computer science, engineering, nursing and business frequently admit a far smaller share of applicants than the institution as a whole, and some require a separate application after the first year.
How to apply
- Confirm the current deadline and test policy on the official admission page.
- Check the required secondary school coursework and whether your transcript meets it.
- Prepare the essay and any supplemental questions — see our essay guide.
- Ask for recommendation letters at least four weeks before the deadline.
- File the FAFSA from 1 October, and the CSS Profile if this university requires it.
- Track scholarship deadlines separately; they are often earlier than the admission deadline.
International applicants add English proficiency scores, certified translations of transcripts and a financial statement before the university can issue the Form I-20. Our international student guide covers the full sequence through the visa interview.
Columbia University: frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get into Columbia University?
Columbia University is extremely selective, with a reported acceptance rate of around 3.9%. Enrolled students typically present SAT scores in the 1490-1570 range or ACT results of 34-35. Selectivity also varies by programme, so check the specific college or major you intend to apply to.
How much does Columbia University cost per year?
Published tuition is about $68,400 for all students. That figure excludes housing, food, books, fees and insurance, so the full cost of attendance is higher. Financial aid and scholarships frequently reduce what a family actually pays; use the university's net price calculator for a personal estimate.
Does Columbia University require the SAT or ACT?
Test-optional. Test policies have changed repeatedly in recent admission cycles, so confirm the current requirement on the official admission page before registering for an exam.
What is the application deadline for Columbia University?
The regular deadline is January 1 and the early round is November 1 (Early Decision, binding). The application fee is $85. Programme-specific deadlines for art, music, architecture and nursing are often earlier.