Colleges › New York › Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York is a private campus in New York proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. International students are a visible presence at Columbia University in the City of New York — 19.7% of its 8,973 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

Compare this school Find colleges

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$6,342

family income
under $30k

$4,975

$30–48k

$5,195

$48–75k

$15,368

$75–110k

$44,695

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$21,5902023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Columbia University in the City of New York has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $24,231 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $21,590.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$21,353
2009	$16,143
2010	$19,676
2011	$21,858
2012	$22,672
2013	$22,298
2014	$21,031
2015	$22,001
2016	$24,231
2017	$22,637
2018	$23,306
2019	$22,823
2020	$12,836
2021	$23,497
2022	$20,148
2023	$21,590

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$89,4722024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Columbia University in the City of New York rose from $51,406 (2009) to $89,472 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$51,406
2010	$54,294
2011	$56,681
2012	$59,208
2013	$61,540
2014	$64,144
2015	$66,604
2016	$69,021
2017	$71,972
2018	$74,435
2019	$76,907
2020	$79,750
2021	$70,999
2022	$82,617
2023	$86,042
2024	$89,472

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$25,922
2001	$26,908
2002	$28,206
2003	$29,788
2004	$31,472
2005	$33,246
2006	$35,166
2007	$37,223
2008	$39,326
2013	$49,138
2014	$51,008
2015	$53,000
2016	$55,056
2017	$57,208
2018	$59,430
2019	$61,788
2020	$61,671
2021	$63,530
2022	$66,139
2023	$69,045

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Columbia University in the City of New York reports published tuition of $71,845 in this record. Columbia University in the City of New York's $71,845 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Columbia University in the City of New York reports 8,973 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

96.1% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Columbia University in the City of New York within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

96.1%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Columbia University in the City of New York rose from 87.2% (entered 1991) to 96.1% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	87.2%
1992 cohort	88.5%
1993 cohort	85.9%
1994 cohort	86.5%
1995 cohort	89.3%
1996 cohort	91.8%
1997 cohort	92.1%
1998 cohort	92.9%
1999 cohort	91.6%
2000 cohort	93.4%
2001 cohort	92.8%
2002 cohort	92.6%
2003 cohort	93%
2004 cohort	92.2%
2005 cohort	92.8%
2006 cohort	95%
2007 cohort	93.3%
2008 cohort	94.7%
2009 cohort	95.2%
2010 cohort	94.1%
2011 cohort	95.1%
2012 cohort	95.8%
2013 cohort	95.5%
2014 cohort	96.8%
2015 cohort	95.3%
2016 cohort	95.3%
2017 cohort	95%
2018 cohort	96.1%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$17,125	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$16,832	$10,250
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$16,488	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$15,188	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$15,125	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$14,500	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,500	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,500	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$12,750	$7,187
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$11,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$9,825	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$9,771	$10,550
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$12,500	$11,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$14,000	$10,455
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$18,983	$9,098
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$22,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$21,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$21,406	$12,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$21,979	$12,723
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$21,500	$12,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$21,500	$12,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$21,500	$13,275

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$88,535

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$98,435

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$102,491

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Columbia University in the City of New York admitted 2,400 of 60,115 applicants in Fall 2024. The 4% rate describes that application pool.

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $69,045 tuition · 2023–24 8,973 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1510–15801600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Columbia University in the City of New York reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Columbia University in the City of New York’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 740–780 and Math was 770–800 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1510–1580 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	740	760	780
SAT Math	770	790	800
ACT Composite	34	35	35

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Columbia University in the City of New York received 60,115 applications and admitted 2,400 (4%), with 1,558 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

4%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

The share admitted at Columbia University in the City of New York declined from 14% to 4%; this does not establish why. This describes Fall 2002 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2002	14%
Fall 2003	13.6%
Fall 2004	13.2%
Fall 2005	12.8%
Fall 2006	11.6%
Fall 2007	11.6%
Fall 2008	10.6%
Fall 2009	11%
Fall 2010	9.8%
Fall 2011	9.5%
Fall 2012	7%
Fall 2013	7.4%
Fall 2014	7%
Fall 2015	6.6%
Fall 2016	6.8%
Fall 2017	6.4%
Fall 2018	5.9%
Fall 2019	5.5%
Fall 2020	6.7%
Fall 2021	4.1%
Fall 2022	4%
Fall 2023	4.2%
Fall 2024	4%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2002–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1510–1580Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	1330	1530
Fall 2003	1320	1530
Fall 2004	1330	1540
Fall 2005	1340	1540
Fall 2006	1340	1540
Fall 2007	1330	1540
Fall 2008	1330	1540
Fall 2009	1360	1550
Fall 2010	1370	1550
Fall 2011	1390	1570
Fall 2012	1400	1570
Fall 2013	1390	1570
Fall 2014	1390	1570
Fall 2015	1380	1570
Fall 2016	1410	1590
Fall 2017	1440	1580
Fall 2018	1450	1560
Fall 2019	1440	1570
Fall 2020	1460	1570
Fall 2021	1470	1570
Fall 2022	1490	1580
Fall 2023	1490	1570
Fall 2024	1510	1580

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

34–35Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	27	33
Fall 2005	28	33
Fall 2006	28	33
Fall 2007	28	33
Fall 2008	28	33
Fall 2009	29	34
Fall 2010	31	34
Fall 2011	31	34
Fall 2012	32	35
Fall 2013	31	34
Fall 2014	31	34
Fall 2015	31	35
Fall 2016	32	35
Fall 2017	33	35
Fall 2018	33	35
Fall 2019	33	35
Fall 2020	33	35
Fall 2021	34	35
Fall 2022	34	35
Fall 2023	34	35
Fall 2024	34	35

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

8,973Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Columbia University in the City of New York rose from 6,988 (Fall 2002) to 8,973 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	6,988
Fall 2003	7,134
Fall 2004	7,233
Fall 2005	7,319
Fall 2006	7,318
Fall 2007	7,285
Fall 2008	7,495
Fall 2009	7,743
Fall 2010	7,950
Fall 2011	8,127
Fall 2012	7,814
Fall 2013	7,970
Fall 2014	8,100
Fall 2015	8,102
Fall 2016	8,124
Fall 2017	8,147
Fall 2018	8,216
Fall 2019	8,221
Fall 2020	8,148
Fall 2021	8,833
Fall 2022	8,902
Fall 2023	8,899
Fall 2024	8,973

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

98%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Columbia University in the City of New York has held near 98% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	97%
Fall 2003 cohort	97%
Fall 2004 cohort	98%
Fall 2005 cohort	97%
Fall 2006 cohort	97%
Fall 2007 cohort	99%
Fall 2008 cohort	98%
Fall 2009 cohort	97%
Fall 2010 cohort	96%
Fall 2011 cohort	96%
Fall 2012 cohort	97%
Fall 2013 cohort	96%
Fall 2014 cohort	96%
Fall 2015 cohort	97%
Fall 2016 cohort	97%
Fall 2017 cohort	98%
Fall 2018 cohort	99%
Fall 2019 cohort	95%
Fall 2020 cohort	99%
Fall 2021 cohort	98%
Fall 2022 cohort	97%
Fall 2023 cohort	98%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Columbia University in the City of New York

Faculty pay at Columbia University in the City of New York averages $258,192 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Columbia University in the City of New York as a primarily residential campus of 8,973 undergraduates — and 98% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Columbia University in the City of New York's SAT section-percentile sums are 1510–1580 — their midpoint is above the NY four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. 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.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Columbia University in the City of New York compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Columbia University in the City of New York4%

New York median70.1%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Columbia University in the City of New York$71,845

New York median$17,408

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Columbia University in the City of New York's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Columbia University in the City of New York$102,491

New York median$60,236

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Columbia University in the City of New York, New York and national reference values
Metric & basis	Columbia University in the City of New York	New York median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	4%	70.1%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$71,845	$17,408	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$102,491	$60,236	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Columbia University in the City of New York, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Columbia University in the City of New York federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 24 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	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

These 24 fields listed for Columbia University in the City of New York measure earnings after completion. The $102,491 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 43 additional Columbia University in the City of New York fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Columbia University in the City of New York report?

Columbia University in the City of New York's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1510–1580 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate?

4% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 2,400 admitted from 60,115 applicants.

How much does Columbia University in the City of New York cost?

At Columbia University in the City of New York, tuition is $71,845. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Columbia University in the City of New York report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $102,491. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in New York

Colgate University — 13.9% admitted
Circle in the Square Theatre School — 8% admitted
Cornell University — 8.8% admitted
Barnard College — 8.8% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.