Columbia University
4 (111 ratings)
Everything you need to know about Columbia University
- Columbia University is a private research university established in 1754 and located in Manhattan, New York, USA. The institute hosts three undergraduate schools across a vast area of nearly 40 acres. Apart from the main campus, the institute has two other campuses outside of Manhattan that offer various courses and programs.
- The university has an acceptance rate of only 5%. Some popular programs at Columbia University are B.E, B.Tech, MBA, M.A, B.Sc, LLB, etc. Columbia University is an Ivy League School and one of the country's top private research universities. The institute offers over eighty courses and bachelor's, PG, certification, diploma, and Ph.D. programs.
- The programs feature special research options and summer research jobs, among other great facilities. The university also has a record-breaking 100% placement for all its students within three months of graduation. The university houses some of the world's best writers, artists, scientists, and scholars.
- More than 90% of the students stay at the on-campus accommodation available at 20 residence halls, and the living expenses would be around 11,000 USD per year for housing and meals.
- The average tuition fee at the university is around 61,000 USD per annum, and the institution offers several grants even at the entry level, has on-campus accommodation, and has top faculty for students to hone their skills.
BS in Civil Engineering
Fees ($)
$2.40L / year
Fees (₹)
₹1.99Cr / year
Duration
48 months
BS in Applied Physics
Fees ($)
$60.10K / year
Fees (₹)
₹49.82L / year
Duration
48 months
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Fees ($)
$60.10K / year
Fees (₹)
₹49.73L / year
Duration
48 months
Bachelors in Astronomy
Fees ($)
$60.51K / year
Fees (₹)
₹50.16L / year
Duration
48 months
MS Electrical Engineering
Fees ($)
$65.52K / year
Fees (₹)
₹54.23L / year
Duration
24 months
MBA
Fees ($)
$91.73K / year
Fees (₹)
₹75.92L / year
Duration
24 months
Select education and stream level to view the fees for a relevant course.
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University Ranking
The esteemed Ivy League of Universities includes the 1754-founded Columbia University. The oldest university in New York City and one of the oldest in the country is Columbia University, which was established before the Declaration of Independence.
In terms of US rankings, US News & World Report gives the highest weight to the university's reputation, and global and regional research has Columbia University placed third for the past four years (2018-2021). The university has been ranked among the top 10 over the past five years by the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, which factors in research output (40%) and quality of faculty (40%) as well as the quality of instruction (10%). Check out the 2021 Columbia University Admissions page.
For the past five years, Columbia University has been ranked in the top 20 by international ranking experts, QS University Rankings, and Times Higher Education (THE) (2017-2021). When ranking universities on a global scale, Times Higher Education (THE) gives equal weight to teaching, research, and citations at 30% each, whereas QS University Rankings prioritise academic reputation (40%) and employer reputation (30%).
| Ranked By | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Universities Rankings | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | NA |
| QS - World University Ranking | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - University Ranking | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 11 |
| US News & World Report - Global Universities | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| US News & World Report - National University Ranking | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Course Ranking
Three recognised undergraduate colleges of Columbia University—Columbia College (CC), Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (FFEAS), and The School of General Studies (GS)—offer a variety of course options for students. A few graduate schools that fall under the university are the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia Business School, and Columbia Law School.
The university is one of the top five universities to study for a Finance MBA, as seen in the table, according to US News & World Report's rating of universities' course offerings. The university has been listed in the top 10 for the past six years, from 2016 to 2021, by the Graduate Business School ranking by US News & World Report, the Global MBA ranking by QS Subject Ranking, the Global MBA ranking by Financial Times, and the Best Business School ranking by Bloomberg. The university has been listed in the top 20 for accounting and finance by QS Subject Ranking, MBA business analytics by US News & World Report, and PG business and economics by Times Higher Education (THE).
Candidates interested in studying an MBA in entrepreneurship may wish to think about CU since it has been ranked 24 (2021) by US News & World Report for this particular programme. Candidates should be aware that the major rating groups supplied have various ranking standards, but they nonetheless offer a comprehensive view of the calibre of the university's courses. The institution has once again shown its mettle in taking engineering courses. For various subjects, the university typically ranks in the top 20 universities.
While the university's engineering and technology programmes were ranked 51 by QS Subject Ranking for 2020 and 29 by Times Higher Education for 2021. US News & World Report ranked the university at number nine for its Biomedical Engineering programme, and all other programmes, such as Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, have received extraordinarily high rankings, as seen in the chart below. The university, a centre for computer education, received rankings of 14 and 16 from US News & World Report for its PG and UG Computer Engineering programmes, respectively.
Ranking for Business Courses
| Ranked By | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Bloomberg - Best Business School USA | 7 | 9 | 10 | 6 | NA |
| FT (Financial Times) - GMBA Ranking | 7 | 9 | 8 | NA | NA |
| QS - Accounting & Finance | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | NA |
| QS - Global MBA | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Business and Economics | 11 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 14 |
| US News & World Report - Entrepreneurship MBA | NA | NA | NA | 24 | NA |
| US News & World Report - Finance MBA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| US News & World Report - Graduate Business School | 9 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| US News & World Report - MBA Business Analytics | NA | NA | NA | 13 | 12 |
Ranking for Engineering Courses
| Ranked By | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| QS - Architecture & Built Environment Rankings | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | NA |
| QS - Engineering and Technology | 81 | 48 | 51 | 47 | NA |
| QS - Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering Rankings | 51-100 | 51-100 | 51-100 | 51-100 | NA |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Engineering and Technology | 26 | 34 | 33 | 29 | 27 |
| US News & World Report - Best UG Biomedical Engineering Schools | NA | NA | NA | 17 | 16 |
| US News & World Report - Biomedical Engineering PG | NA | NA | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| US News & World Report - Chemical Engineering PG | NA | NA | NA | 23 | 22 |
| US News & World Report - Civil Engineering PG | NA | NA | NA | 23 | 20 |
| US News & World Report - Electrical Engineering PG | NA | NA | NA | 14 | 14 |
| US News & World Report - Mechanical Engineering PG | NA | NA | NA | 17 | 17 |
| US News & World Report - UG Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engg. | NA | 15 | 15 | 14 | 18 |
| US News & World Report - UG Mechanical Engineering | NA | 18 | 18 | 20 | 21 |
Ranking for Computers Courses
| Ranked By | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Computers | 19 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
| US News & World Report - Computer Engineering PG | NA | NA | NA | 14 | 16 |
| US News & World Report - UG Computer Engineering | NA | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
Ranking for Science Courses
| Ranked By | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Shanghai Mathematics Rankings | 25 | 19 | 21 | 25 | NA |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Shanghai Physics Rankings | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | NA |
| QS - Pharmacy & Pharmacology Rankings | 45 | 51-100 | 51-100 | 47 | NA |
| QS - Physics and Astronomy Rankings | 14 | 14 | 14 | 18 | NA |
| QS - QS - Biological Sciences Rankings | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | NA |
| QS - QS - Mathematics Rankings | 14 | 12 | 12 | 16 | NA |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - Life Sciences Rankings | 15 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 11 |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - THE - Psychology Rankings | 15 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 16 |
Ranking for Humanities Courses
| Ranked By | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Shanghai Political Sciences Rankings | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | NA |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Shanghai Sociology Ranking | 6 | 7 | 20 | 15 | NA |
| QS - Communication and Media Studies Rankings | 11 | 11 | 14 | 18 | NA |
| QS - Performing Arts Rankings | 25 | 25 | 25 | 22 | NA |
| QS - Politics Rankings | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | NA |
| QS - QS - Art & Design Rankings | 30 | 33 | 34 | 41 | NA |
| QS - QS - Sociology Rankings | 11 | 10 | 12 | 15 | NA |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - Arts & Humanities Rankings | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Ranking for Medicine Courses
| Ranked By | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Shanghai Nursing Rankings | 29 | 25 | 35 | 46 | NA |
| QS - QS - Medicine Rankings | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | NA |
| QS - QS - Nursing Rankings | 33 | 20 | 20 | 18 | NA |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - Clinical and Health Rankings | 8 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 11 |
| US News & World Report - Best Graduate Medical Schools | 51 | NA | NA | 31 | 66 |
| US News & World Report - Best Graduate Nursing Schools | 8 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 5 |
Ranking for Law Courses
| Ranked By | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Shanghai Law Ranking | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | NA |
| QS - QS - Law Rankings | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | NA |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - THE - Law Rankings | 17 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 15 |
| US News & World Report - Best Graduate Law Schools | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
9
Webometrics - World
7
US News
11
Times Higher Education
22
QS Rankings
11
Times Higher Education
16
Times Higher Education
6
US News
9
Webometrics - World
8
Webometrics - National
Since Columbia University has a very low acceptance rate, you should aim for a 75th percentile, with 1560 SAT or a 35 ACT, to have the highest chance of getting in. A GPA of at least 4.12 is also required.
| Course | Documents Required | Intake Season | Application Fees |
| Undergraduate Courses |
| June and November | 75 USD to 250 USD |
| Post Graduate Courses |
| Fall and Spring | 75 USD to 250 USD |
Columbia University, one of the country's top institutions, is known to have a very high placement rate. The college has a placement rate of 95% right after graduation, and the percentage is believed to increase to 100 within three months of graduation. The university also offers many programs to the students to make them industry ready and help them with career guidance and advising. The average base salary for Columbia graduates is 107,373 USD, with the highest being 500,000 USD and the lowest being 90,000 USD per annum.
Columbia University offers on-campus accommodation to its students. 92% of the students at Columbia opt for on-campus residence. The residence halls are 20 minutes from the main campus.
But, one has to understand before deciding that while the accommodations have all the facilities, New York and Columbia are very expensive in terms of cost of living. It costs around 14,500 USD for first-year students per annum and 15,300 USD for other students, which includes housing, meals, and other living expenses.
Jiya
I am proud to be a student at Columbia University. I have had the opportunity to experience a diverse community with people from all over the world, as well as an environment that is comfortable and feels like home. One of my favorite things about CU is that the professors are very knowledgeable about their fields and always want you to succeed.
Navi
I am a student here now, and I have to say that Columbia is the perfect place for me. It's easy to get around, the campus is beautiful and the facilities are top notch. I've made so many friends already and all of my teachers are amazing. They teach in an engaging way that never fails to keep me interested. The tuition fees are also very reasonable.
Geet
Columbia University is the perfect school for me. The surrounding neighborhoods are diverse, and the campus offers a lot of activities that can't be found at other schools. The faculty and staff are always willing to help and are genuinely friendly. Being in the city, it's also easy to get to any cultural event or restaurant you want.
Scholarships
Deadline
2023-07-01
Awarded
Varies
Amount
₹1.15L
Deadline
2023-07-01
Awarded
Varies
Amount
₹1.16L
Deadline
2023-06-30
Awarded
Varies
Amount
₹18.36L
Deadline
2023-07-01
Awarded
Varies
Amount
₹1.16L
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Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Columbia University
What is Columbia University known for?
Columbia University is an Ivy League school and is known as one of the top institutes in the world. The institute offers 80 different courses and programs to 40,000 students every year. The institute has a placement percentage of 100% within three months of graduation.
How to enrol in courses at Columbia University?
To enrol for courses at Columbia University, one must visit their official website and create an account by adding all the necessary details. Once done, you can browse for courses available at the institute, look at the eligibility criteria and other information and apply for the ones you are interested in.
How to change course at Columbia University?
If you wish to change courses at Columbia University, you must apply to the course and follow all the admission procedures again.
Is Columbia University good for international students?
Columbia University is a very welcoming place for international students with several scholarships that are available right at the beginning of the first semester. The on-campus accommodation and several courses make Columbia a university of interest for many international students.
What are the application deadlines for applying to Columbia University?
Since the university has two intakes every year, the deadline for Fall intake is early June and Spring intake is November.
What is the minimum GPA requirement to get into Columbia University?
Columbia University does not have a specific GPA requirement. But the average GPA for undergraduates is 3.19 and 3.5 for PG programs on a scale of 4.0.