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Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York is a private nonprofit university in a large city in the New York, NY metro with 9,111 students and a 4% acceptance rate.

New York, New York · Private nonprofit · City, large · 9,111 students · R1 research university

NCAA Division I · Ivy League

Admission rate

4%

of applicants admitted

SAT average

1,553

combined, admitted students

ACT, middle half

34–35

25th to 75th percentile

Average net price

$21,590

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

96%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

97%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$102,491

10 years after entry

Students

9,111

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

First-year deadlines, 2026–27

PlanDeadline
Early decision
Apply early, hear early, and you must enroll if admitted. Binding.		November 1, 2026
Regular decision
The standard deadline, with answers in spring. Not binding.		January 1, 2027

Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean

Source: undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu · checked September 29, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, all students, by family income

$0–30,000$4,570
$30,001–48,000$2,275
$48,001–75,000$5,866
$75,001–110,000$11,782
Over $110,000$50,621

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreColumbia University in the City of New York courseCredits
Calculus AB4
3 Requires completion of MATH UN1102 or MATH…3 Requires completion of MATH UN1102 or MATH UN1201 with a grade of C or better (No AP credit is awarded if MATH UN1101 is taken).
Calculus BC4
3 Requires completion of MATH UN1102 OR MATH…3 Requires completion of MATH UN1102 OR MATH UN1201 (No AP credit is awarded if MATH UN1101 is taken).
Biology53 Placement determined by department*
Chemistry4
3 Requires completion of CHEM UN1604 with a grade…3 Requires completion of CHEM UN1604 with a grade of C or better
English Language and Composition53 No exemption
English Literature and Composition53 No exemption
United States History53 No exemption
Psychology5Exemption from PSYC UN1001 The Science of Psychology
Show all 26 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Calculus AB4
3 Requires completion of MATH UN1102 or MATH…3 Requires completion of MATH UN1102 or MATH UN1201 with a grade of C or better (No AP credit is awarded if MATH UN1101 is taken).
Calculus BC4
3 Requires completion of MATH UN1102 OR MATH…3 Requires completion of MATH UN1102 OR MATH UN1201 (No AP credit is awarded if MATH UN1101 is taken).
Calculus BC5
6 Requires completion of MATH UN1201 OR MATH…6 Requires completion of MATH UN1201 OR MATH UN1205 OR MATH UN1207 (No AP credit is awarded if MATH UN1101 or MATH UN1102 is taken).
Biology53 Placement determined by department*
Chemistry4
3 Requires completion of CHEM UN1604 with a grade…3 Requires completion of CHEM UN1604 with a grade of C or better
Chemistry4
6 Requires completion of CHEM UN2045 - CHEM…6 Requires completion of CHEM UN2045 - CHEM UN2046 with a grade of C or better
English Language and Composition53 No exemption
English Literature and Composition53 No exemption
United States History53 No exemption
Psychology5Exemption from PSYC UN1001 The Science of Psychology
Statistics5
3 Students required to take STAT UN1111 or STAT…3 Students required to take STAT UN1111 or STAT UN1001 for their major should check with their major adviser to determine if this credit provides exemption from these courses
Computer Science A43 Exemption from COMS W1004
European History53 No exemption
Comparative Government and Politics53 Exemption from POLS UN1201
Computer Science AB43 Exemption from COMS W1004
Economics44 Exemption from ECON UN1105
French Language and Culture4Satisfies foreign language requirement
French Language and Culture53 Satisfies foreign language requirement*
French Literature4Satisfies foreign language requirement
French Literature53 Satisfies foreign language requirement*
German Language and Culture4Satisfies foreign language requirement
German Language and Culture53 Satisfies foreign language requirement*
Government and Politics: United States53 Exemption from POLS UN1201
Italian Literature4Satisfies foreign language requirement
Italian Literature53 Satisfies foreign language requirement*
Latin4Satisfies foreign language requirement
Latin4Satisfies foreign language requirement
Latin53 Satisfies foreign language requirement
Latin53 Satisfies foreign language requirement
Music: Theory43 No exemption
Music: Theory5
3 Exemption from MUSI UN1002 ; Exemption from…3 Exemption from MUSI UN1002 ; Exemption from MUSI UN2318 - MUSI UN2319 determined by departmental exam
Physics 1 AND 246 No exemption from science requirement
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism43 No exemption from science requirement
Physics C: Mechanics43 No exemption from science requirement
Spanish: Language4Satisfies foreign language requirement
Spanish: Language53 Satisfies foreign language requirement*
Spanish: Literature4Satisfies foreign language requirement
Spanish: Literature53 Satisfies foreign language requirement*

Source: bulletin.columbia.edu · checked September 19, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Computer Science408
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics240
Political Science and Government201
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other116
Neuroscience104
English Language and Literature93
History90
Mechanical Engineering81
Show the other 59 majors
Visual and Performing Arts, Other68
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering55
Biology/Biological Sciences54
Applied Mathematics54
Operations Research50
Sociology44
Sustainability Studies43
Mathematics42
Creative Writing37
Economics37
Philosophy36
Social Sciences, Other33
Comparative Literature30
Statistics27
Art History, Criticism and Conservation26
Computer Engineering25
Physics25
Electrical and Electronics Engineering24
Mathematics and Computer Science24
Biochemistry23
Astrophysics21
Geology/Earth Science21
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering20
Anthropology18
Civil Engineering18
Architecture17
East Asian Studies16
Chemical Engineering14
Music13
American/United States Studies/Civilization12
Cognitive Science12
Information Science/Studies11
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics11
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics11
Chemistry11
Urban Studies/Affairs11
Linguistics10
Ethnic Studies10
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other9
Environmental Science8
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other8
Religion/Religious Studies7
Biophysics6
Evolutionary Biology6
African-American/Black Studies5
Data Science5
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts4
Industrial Engineering4
Dance3
Materials Science3
Italian Language and Literature3
Latin American Studies2
Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2
German Language and Literature2
French Language and Literature2
Humanities/Humanistic Studies2
Ancient Studies/Civilization2
Astronomy2
Physical Sciences, Other1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Ranked programs

Where Columbia University in the City of New York ranks in the top 25 on our top-programs lists, best rank first. How we rank programs

Show the other 12 ranked programs

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Ivy League

Baseball, Basketball, Fencing, Football, Golf, Other Sports, Rowing, Soccer, Squash, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Wrestling

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Ivy League

Archery, Basketball, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball

ROTC

Air Force, Army, Navy

Faith groups

Cru, Hillel, InterVarsity

Also

Study abroad

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), bridgesinternational.com · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

City, large

Federal locale classification

Metro area

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

19,940,274 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

Yes

More about the place

Nearest airport

Laguardia (LGA)

Nearest hub airport

Laguardia (LGA)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 13.3 of 20

Elevation

150 ft

Time zone

Eastern

January low

28°F

July high

85°F

Annual snowfall

29.8 in

Days at 90°F or higher

17 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$2,600 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Private nonprofit, city campus, NCAA Division I, similar size