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Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York admits 4 of every 100 applicants — a reach school for nearly everyone applying to Columbia University in the City of New York, whatever the rest of the profile says.
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Columbia University in the City of New York sits in New York proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 19.7% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $194,365 four years out. Faculty pay averages $258,192 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 8,973 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 98% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1490 and 1570 — above the NY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Columbia University in the City of New York's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to Columbia University in the City of New York without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1490 and 1570; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 730 | 760 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 760 | 780 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Columbia University in the City of New York received 57,613 applications and admitted 2,439 (4.2%), with 1,540 enrolling.
How Columbia University in the City of New York compares
| Columbia University in the City of New York | New York median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 4% | 70.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $71,845 | $17,408 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $102,491 | $60,236 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Columbia University in the City of New York student earns $102,491 — 70% above the New York median of $60,236 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Columbia University in the City of New York lists tuition at $71,845 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Columbia University in the City of New York's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $71,845 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Columbia University in the City of New York enrolls 8,973 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Columbia University in the City of New York's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
96.1% of Columbia University in the City of New York students finish a bachelor's within six years — 41.2 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $71,845 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Columbia University in the City of New York
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $194,365 |
| Computer Science | $188,265 |
| Operations Research | $167,572 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $143,332 |
| Economics | $137,710 |
| Mathematics | $117,252 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $111,491 |
| Civil Engineering | $108,246 |
| Sociology | $101,536 |
| Political Science and Government | $100,245 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $99,679 |
| History | $98,079 |
| Area Studies | $96,884 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $86,946 |
| Sustainability Studies | $85,545 |
| Anthropology | $83,493 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $70,244 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $65,085 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $59,396 |
| Philosophy | $56,885 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $55,472 |
| Biology, General | $53,698 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $47,702 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | $46,535 |
Median earnings for these 24 Columbia University in the City of New York programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $102,491 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 43 additional Columbia University in the City of New York programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Columbia University in the City of New York?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1490–1570 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate?
4.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,439 admitted from 57,613 applicants.
How much does Columbia University in the City of New York cost?
At Columbia University in the City of New York, published tuition is $71,845 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Columbia University in the City of New York's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Columbia University in the City of New York graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $102,491 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in New York
- Colgate University — 13.9% admitted
- Circle in the Square Theatre School — 8% admitted
- Cornell University — 8.8% admitted
- Belanger School of Nursing — 0% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.