About Columbia University in the City of New York

Founded in 1754, Columbia University in the City of New York. is a Private college. Located in New York, which is a city setting in New York, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 8,124 full time undergraduate students, and 21,248 full time graduate students.

The Columbia University in the City of New York Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 6:1. There are 1521 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Columbia University in the City of New York include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate6%
Application Deadline1-Nov
Application Fee85
SAT Range1410-1590
ACT Range32-35

Admissions at CU are considered Most Selective, with ,56% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 4 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

0% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 0% were in the top quarter, and 0% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Columbia University in the City of New York.

1%
“We”re apathetic”
7%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
42%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
1%
“We save it for the classroom”
6%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
49%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
10%
“I only go out in groups”
46%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
45%
“I feel extremely safe”
46%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
46%
“We bought the gear”
8%
“We live for the big game”
2%
“It”s not really our thing”
20%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
54%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
25%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
17%
“Available in class”
58%
“They keep regular office hours”
24%
“They”re always available”
4%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
60%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
33%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
3%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
18%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
66%
“We only party on weekends”
15%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
48%
“There might be people who do”
41%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
4%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
1%
“We”re apathetic”
7%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
42%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
1%
“We save it for the classroom”
6%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
49%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
10%
“I only go out in groups”
46%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
45%
“I feel extremely safe”
46%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
46%
“We bought the gear”
8%
“We live for the big game”
2%
“It”s not really our thing”
20%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
54%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
25%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
17%
“Available in class”
58%
“They keep regular office hours”
24%
“They”re always available”
4%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
60%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
33%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
3%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
18%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
66%
“We only party on weekends”
15%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
48%
“There might be people who do”
41%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
4%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Columbia University in the City of New York REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    106 Students rated on-campus housing 4 stars. 25 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    86 Students rated off-campus housing 2.5 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    111 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 18 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    118 Students rated campus facilities 4 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    118 Students rated class size 4 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    117 Students rated school activities 4.2 stars. 48 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    118 Students rated local services 4.6 stars. 71 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    119 Students rated academics 4.1 stars. 51 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Columbia University in the City of New York?

46 Students rated Columbia University in the City of New York

Valentina - 09/18/2023

I am currently a first year masters student in the human rights studies program that Columbia University offers. During the weeks before class where I have had to explore the campus to myself, I found a sort of enchantment with it. The reputation of Columbia University exceeds itself, and its quite difficult sometimes to not feel exasperated by imposter syndrome, but it serves as a reminder to me that everyone got here (at least mostly everyone), from their own merits and accomplishments. I will admit that for me, it has been an arduous process to acquire funding from the university, and even more so help from the financial aid office-- as there are injustices in how they decide who receives funding and who does not. And at times, I wish the university could help students and evenly disperse funds to students in need rather than shut them down. This matter affects nearly everyone in my program and is a rather sensitive, and even painful subject for some. Despite this, I know that my hard work will be worth it one day, and that keeps me going.

Jacqueline - 05/19/2022

I begrudgingly take one last bite of the right half of my sub. It’s dripping wet and the mixture of avocado and hummus spread on both halves has made for a slippery descent of cold turkey meat. I fold the remainder up within the tough crinkling foil that reminds me of the blanket’s astronauts use in space and think to myself sitting alone. This was not the evening dining experience I had romanticized about when I thought of myself finally being accepted into an academic university of this caliber. It wasn’t so much the shitty seventeen dollar sub and the lonely feeling I got when I ran into one of my few friends on campus and she threw up her hand with an “I’m late,” unable to make out her facial expressions that would match the standoffish tone. I stood there in the middle of the foyer of Avery library feeling like an alien. Luckily, I was met with resistance when I tried to enter the library with a to go cup of coffee in my hand the front desk person redirecting me that only closed containers were allowed. He wasn’t being rude, I just felt that uncomfortable feeling again. I stood there for a moment and then decided I would plop down on the stone bench where the industrial sized blow dryer was dehydrating the slick floor and eat the leftover half of my bacon egg and cheese bagel from the morning. I tried my best to avoid touching the sandwich with my un-sanitized hands but to no avail. I ate the bagel contaminated and all and I enjoyed it. I had a moment of awareness, how strange I might look to passersby’s watching my mouth make love to this sweet no longer warm bagel, but remembered that even though no one says it, considering the amount of work our classes require, I believe we are all equally hungry most of the time. And so I keep eating and eventually I am met with the calm eyes of a class mate. We exchange friendly hellos and she sits down on the arm of the far end of the stone bench. I acknowledge the state I was in with a sense of humor and she is comfortably understanding. We exchanged a few words and before I know it we are many layers deep into the systemic capitalistic culture of Columbia. Naturally, it has been the third if not fourth conversation on the topic I had engaged in less than forty-eight hours. Someone is brushing their teeth in the bathroom. Everyones gone and I am alone. Everyones back. Theyre all walking by. I expressed to her a sense of warning that I observed coming from somewhere within me I couldn’t exactly point to. This sort of sentiment, a year ago, I would have turned the other cheek to. But something was happening in me, to me, that I found was also happening in others and somehow, I was regularly finding myself in exchange with them. It is my second real semester here at the University. If you don’t of course count the three previous semesters which I had to medically withdrawal from. One during the fall of 2020 when my partner relapsed into his addiction and was cooking crack in the basement of our very bourgeoise apartment building. That was the first time. I was taking French then too and couldn’t seem to hold my focus long enough to retain much of the elementary lesson. My teacher was a very sweet French woman. I wonder where she is now. The second time was in the summer of 2020 one when my partner and I moved back to Brooklyn from Florida and I was showing up to class in between driving through the five or is it six, lets see, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Deleware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, the six states that separate the two. I only lost out on around twelve hundred dollars of my tuition money that time, it wasn’t so bad. But no need to worry I made it back to the most important thing, Columbia University, where dreams come true, or die, or both? Both because in a way I came here thinking I would become an activist painter and I have fallen deeply for the pursuit of finding my voice and telling my story through the creative writing program, which I hear the best writers I know claim it’s something special. Whichever it is, I’m here to find out.

Yejide - 09/11/2020

Honestly, I would not recommend this school to anyone who is facing a dire financial crisis because this university is one of the brokest among the Ivies. The financial aid is laughable and the university still wants to increase tuition when the students can’t afford it. The minorities on campus are ignored and neglected, especially the Black community on campus. This school is somewhat segregated between rich and poor. They only care about you as an individual if you have wealth. Otherwise, you’ll be disregarded like the rest of us.

Michelle

Great university with great professors. I really enjoy GS as it's got the feel of a small college with the resources of a large university. There are many sources of support and opportunity built in for the non-traditional student. Everyone has got that "Columbia Face" - put together on the outside and freaking out on the inside - so you're not alone!

Columbia University in the City of New York FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Columbia University in the City of New York?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Columbia University in the City of New York is 6%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Remain confident when your thoughts and opinions are challenged, yet open to alternative views and seriously consider why they may be valid. Select a major you are not only curious about, but consider this a field you would like to pursue a career in and a discipline that will enrich you as a scholar and intellectual. Visit every single professor during office hours, even if you don't any questions, demonstrate interest in their course. Be social, make new friends but always keep in perspective your priorities - your education and your health. This is an experience that will change your life. So have fun, enjoy the journey and grow as a person. Your potential is limitless. Most importantly, stay focused. Your education is the most priceless, rewarding investment you can make for yourself.

    Read all  111 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    Friendly and enjoy working together

    Read all  94 answers
  4. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    It's a perfect size school, gives you the feeling of a big city but also a small college campus, makes you feel very intellectual and that you are a part of a long history, has a wonderful library, the sports aren't great but the academics are top noch, great parties, great being in the city

    Read all  80 answers
  5. What are the academics like at your school?

    great size classes, great relationship with the professors, has really interesting kinds of classes, I take most of my classes at Barnard, the women's college associated with Columbia but the classes I've taken at Columbia in my major were great - small seminars and great conversation, the professors generally treat the students like their peers, respect them and their opinions

    Read all  75 answers
  6. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Rich and preppy

    Read all  71 answers
  7. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    of course there are some people who are like this, but they're not only at columbia

    Read all  71 answers
  8. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    highly depends on which school you go to: CC or SEAS CORE is going big in recent years, CUFE/CFIG/CIBD/Consulting club are the 4 biggest professional clubs.

    Read all  70 answers
  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    It's an Ivy League. What else can I say? I mean, sure, yea, Harvard and Yale are worthy competitors, but c'mon... Cambridge and New Haven (puhleeease) definitely don't measure up to New York City. It's Manhattan!

    Read all  53 answers
  10. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    A slightly hipster, idealistic campus where students work hard on weekdays, party hard on weekends.

    Read all  30 answers
  11. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Faculty and access to resources.

    Read all  22 answers
  12. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish that I had understood the financial aid program a bit more. My package was cut dramatically between my 1st and 2nd year and every year after that. I foolishly presumed that the package I got coming in as a freshman was applicable to all 4 years.

    Read all  21 answers
  13. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The beauracracy is ridiculous. Ridiculous. Simple tasks like getting a financial aid check signed would take three trips to four different offices. And they lost my paychecks a few times.

    Read all  20 answers
  14. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    If you are not a dedicated student and you do not have a passion for learning, Columbia definitely is not the right school for you. At Columbia, you are completely surrounded by faculty and students that are truly passionate about what they're studying. Even if it's not a class relating to their major, everyone is still passionate about learning in general. Columbia is a hard school, and the only way to survive and do well is to be a hard worker. You shouldn't attend Columbia is you aren't going to be dedicated to your studies.

    Read all  20 answers
  15. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    Likely due to the school's location in New York City, there is no cohesive community on campus.

    Read all  19 answers
  16. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    My school is best known for being an Ivy League University. The curriculum is challenging and rigorous. I would recommend my school to individuals who are focused, can devote their full attention to the academic experience and is moderately social.

    Read all  19 answers
  17. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    Columbia students are very hard-working and very bright. This often means that there is a slight perception of elitism or "preppy-ness," considering we're an Ivy League school in the Northeast. Of course many students are seen as "nerds," especially in engineering. There is the perception that there are a fair amount of hipsters and hippies, due to the extremely liberal nature of the school. Obviously none of these are 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} accurate. The student body is incredibly diverse: one of the school's greatest strengths and most attractive features. Anyone can find a crowd in which they will fit, and flourish. And if you go looking, you can find almost any type of student here at CU.

    Read all  17 answers
  18. What's unique about your campus?

    New York City! And the speakers

    Read all  15 answers
  19. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Willling to experience diverse environments and people; motivated and with a desire to learn; likes living in a city and looking forward to taking advantage of the culture that NYC has to offer.

    Read all  12 answers
  20. Tell us about the sports scene on campus.

    Unfortunately, Columbia students do not pride themselves on their sports teams. In fact, there is little school spirit and attendance at sports events. There is a general attitude that many of the athletes are less intelligent/less deserving of going to this Ivy League. I have to give credit to the Columbia athletics department, though. they are really trying to improve accessibility and attendance. Yearly Basketball Mania is a lot of fun, as is Homecoming (which is a big event for Greek life)

    Read all  9 answers
  21. What's the Greek scene like?

    Greeks make up about 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of Columbia's undergrad population. I'm involved in Greek life and I absolutely love it. For those of us who are involved, it is SO important, exciting and enjoyable for us. It has really "made" my college experience. That said, if you're not at all interested, don't worry about it. You'll barely notice the fraternities and sororities if it's not your thing.

    Read all  5 answers

Student Body

Students

46%

female

54%

male

8,124

Total Undergrad Enrollment

21,248

Total Grad Students

63%

Out-Of-State

17%

In-State

20%

International

Organizations

500

Student Organizations

14

Fraternities

11

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

20%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
18%
% Black or African-American
7%
% Hispanic/Latino
13%
% White or Caucasian
37%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

57% of students attending Columbia University in the City of New York receive some sort of financial aid. 18% were awarded federal grants. While 11% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$49,973

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,400

Books and Supplies

$13,244

Room and Board

64,617

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$9,481
$30 - $48K
$5,251
$48 - $75K
$6,592
$75 - $110K
$14,262
$110K & UP
$40,464

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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