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Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York · Private · 8,973 undergrads

Columbia admits 4.9% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 1, 2027.

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Can I get into Columbia?

4.9% of applicants get in

Almost everyone who applies is turned down, including many students with perfect grades. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1510–1560 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

59,611 applied, 2,946 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does Columbia cost?

$15,370 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $92,198.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$2,275
$30,000–$48,000$4,020
$48,000–$75,000$4,878
$75,000–$110,000$8,881
over $110,000$40,931

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Columbia's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

Does Columbia need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 45% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1540 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

8,973
undergrads. Mid-size: plenty of people, and professors who can learn your name.
City
Campus setting in New York, NY.
98%
of first-years come back for year two.
80%
finish in four years. 95% within six.
$109.4k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$20.5k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Columbia is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Jan 1Most selective in New YorkColleges for a 34 ACTCheapest after aid, families under $30kCheapest after aid, families $48–75kColleges that meet full need

Questions people ask

Is Columbia University in the City of New York test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Columbia is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate?
4.9% for fall 2025: 2,946 of 59,611 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Columbia University in the City of New York?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1510 to 1560 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Columbia University in the City of New York cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $4,878 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $92,198.
When is the Columbia University in the City of New York application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision closed Nov 1, 2026. Regular decision is due Jan 1, 2027. Checked on undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
Does Columbia University in the City of New York have early decision?
Yes. 819 of 5,868 early decision applicants were admitted (14%) in fall 2025. Early decision is binding: if you're admitted, you go.