Columbia University

New York, NY
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Class of 2029
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Key Facts

Acceptance Rates

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    Programs by Median Earnings (1 Year After Graduation)

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    Faculty & Research

    436 faculty · 283 courses · data as of 2026-07-02

    Government104 faculty · 30 courses avg h-index 23.9 #4 of 100 in Political Science
    Robert Legvold, Professor Emeritus h-index 92
    Notable: “Nationalism Reframed: Nationhood and the National Question in the New Europe” (1997) · 1,428 citations
    Jon Elster, Professor Emeritus h-index 85
    Notable: “Social Norms and Economic Theory” (1989) · 2,039 citations
    Robert S. Erikson, Professor of Political Science h-index 72
    Notable: “The Constant Flux: A Study of Class Mobility in Industrial Societies.” (1994) · 2,168 citations
    Michael Doyle, Faculty h-index 43
    Notable: “International Peacebuilding: A Theoretical and Quantitative Analysis” (2000) · 1,234 citations
    Courses: Intro to American Politics · Introduction to American Politics · Judicial Politics · American Urban Politics · Logic/Paradox in Social Choice · The American Congress +24 more
    Computer Science71 faculty · 22 courses avg h-index 45 #9 of 88 in Computer Science
    Brian A Smith, Associate Professor h-index 121
    Notable: “Dissecting the multicellular ecosystem of metastatic melanoma by single-cell RNA-seq” (2016) · 5,250 citations
    Shree K Nayar, T. C. Chang Professor of Computer Science h-index 95
    Notable: “Visual learning and recognition of 3-d objects from appearance” (1995) · 1,891 citations
    Shih-Fu Chang, Richard Dicker Professor of Electrical Engineering (Joint) h-index 94
    Notable: “VisualSEEk” (1996) · 1,745 citations
    Jae Woo Lee, Senior Lecturer in Discipline h-index 93
    Notable: “Secure program execution via dynamic information flow tracking” (2004) · 746 citations
    Courses: Introduction to Information Science · Computing in Context · Intro to Computer Science/Programming in C · Programming in Java · Intro to Computer Science/Programming in MATLAB · Intermediate Computer Programming +16 more
    Mathematics60 faculty · 21 courses avg h-index 19.8 #8 of 23 in Mathematics
    Ioannis Karatzas, Higgins Professor of Applied Probability h-index 59
    Notable: “Optimal Portfolio and Consumption Decisions for a “Small Investor” on a Finite Horizon” (1987) · 1,162 citations
    Andrei Okounkov, Samuel Eilenberg Professor of Mathematics h-index 54
    Notable: “Gromov–Witten theory and Donaldson–Thomas theory, I” (2006) · 512 citations
    Duong Hong Phong, Davies Professor of Mathematics h-index 52
    Notable: “The geometry of string perturbation theory” (1988) · 685 citations
    Michael Weinstein, Professor h-index 49
    Notable: “Nonlinear Schr�dinger equations and sharp interpolation estimates” (1983) · 1,432 citations
    Courses: College Algebra and Analytic Geometry · Calculus I · Calculus II · Calculus III · Calculus IV · Accelerated Multivariable Calculus +15 more
    Economics57 faculty · 17 courses avg h-index 35.4 #10 of 104 in Economics
    Joseph E. Stiglitz, University Professor h-index 174
    Notable: “Credit Rationing in Markets with Imperfect Information” (1981) · 12,870 citations
    Jeffrey Sachs, University Professor h-index 115
    Notable: “Economic Reform and the Process of Global Integration” (1995) · 4,925 citations
    Michael Woodford, John Bates Clark Professor of Political Economy h-index 97
    Notable: “INTEREST AND PRICES: FOUNDATIONS OF A THEORY OF MONETARY POLICY” (2005) · 5,751 citations
    Jagdish N. Bhagwati, University Professor h-index 84
    Notable: “The international operations of national firms: A study of direct foreign investment” (1977) · 1,805 citations
    Courses: Principles of Economics · The American Economy · The Global Economy · Financial Economics · Intermediate Microeconomics · Intermediate Macroeconomics +11 more
    Operations Research32 faculty · 27 courses avg h-index 19.3 #29 of 84 in Engineering
    Daniel Bienstock, Liu Family Professor, IEOR h-index 39
    Lily Xu, Assistant Professor, IEOR h-index 32
    Notable: “1D Coordination Polymer Nanofibers for Low‐Temperature Photothermal Therapy” (2017) · 580 citations
    Kaizheng Wang, Assistant Professor, IEOR h-index 18
    Antonius (Ton) Dieker, Professor and Chair, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research h-index 17
    Notable: “ON SPECTRAL SIMULATION OF FRACTIONAL BROWNIAN MOTION” (2003) · 93 citations
    Courses: Frontiers in Operations Research and Data Analytics · Data Engineering with Python · Accounting and Finance · Stochastic Systems and Applications · Production-Inventory Planning and Control · Simulation Modeling and Analysis +21 more
    Biology31 faculty avg h-index 58.2 #1 of 68 in Biology
    James Manley h-index 122
    Cell, Developmental, and Stem Cell Biology Genome Organization, Maintenance and Expression Cancer and Disease Biology Professional Memberships & Awards American Academy of Arts & Sciences Member National Academy of Sciences Member S
    Notable: “Mechanisms of alternative splicing regulation: insights from molecular and genomics approaches” (2009) · 1,301 citations
    Darcy B. Kelley h-index 114
    Notable: “Neurotrophins and their receptors: A convergence point for many signalling pathways” (2003) · 2,287 citations
    Joachim Frank h-index 109
    Structural Biology, Biophysics, Chemical Biology and Biochemistry Professional Memberships & Awards American Academy of Arts & Science Member National Academy of Sciences Member 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Short Research Descripti
    Notable: “Flexible Fitting of Atomic Structures into Electron Microscopy Maps Using Molecular Dynamics” (2008) · 915 citations
    Rafael Yuste h-index 108
    Notable: “Conserved cell types with divergent features in human versus mouse cortex” (2019) · 1,958 citations

    Faculty counts are directory headcounts; the named list may be a subset. h-index shown only for ORCID-backed or high-confidence OpenAlex matches. Partial — enrichment ongoing.

    Demographics

    Student Outcomes

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    About Columbia University. Columbia University in New York, NY reports an overall acceptance rate of 3.9%, an early-round acceptance rate of 13.2%, an SAT middle 50% of 1510–1560, a class size of 1,483, and a yield of 61.0% based on the most recent Common Data Set filings. No longer publishes specific ED acceptance rates. Located in NYC, strong pre-professional culture.

    Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard.

    Columbia University: key admissions facts

    Columbia University's overall acceptance rate is 3.9% (the most recent Common Data Set). Columbia University's early-round acceptance rate is 13.2% (the most recent Common Data Set). Columbia University's SAT middle-50% range is 1510–1560 (the most recent Common Data Set). The average unweighted GPA of admitted students at Columbia University is about 3.93 (the most recent Common Data Set). Columbia University's yield rate (the share of admitted students who enroll) is 61.0% (the most recent Common Data Set). The average net price at Columbia University for families earning under $75,000 is about $7,968 per year (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

    Sources: Common Data Set (commondataset.org) · Columbia University on College Scorecard · NCES IPEDS · full source table

    How much does Columbia University cost for a family earning $75,000?

    A family earning under $30,000 pays about $9,973 per year in net price at Columbia University, while families earning over $110,000 pay about $40,538 (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data). A family earning $75,000 falls in the $48,001–$75,000 bracket and pays about $8,186 per year after grants and scholarships.

    Columbia University: average annual net price by household income (most recent College Scorecard/IPEDS data)
    Household incomeAverage net price per year
    Under $30,000$9,973
    $30,001–$48,000$5,746
    $48,001–$75,000$8,186
    $75,001–$110,000$16,749
    Over $110,000$40,538
    Tuition (before aid)$70,170
    Room and board$18,680

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the acceptance rate at Columbia University?

    Columbia University's overall acceptance rate is 3.9%, based on the most recent Common Data Set. Its early-round (early decision or early action) acceptance rate is 13.2%.

    What SAT score and GPA do you need for Columbia University?

    Admitted students at Columbia University typically have an SAT middle-50% range of 1510–1560 and an average unweighted GPA of about 3.93, according to the most recent Common Data Set. These are the middle of the range, so scores above them strengthen an application.

    Is it hard to get into Columbia University?

    Getting into Columbia University is extremely difficult: it admits 3.9% of applicants. Your realistic odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to its middle-50% ranges and on your application round — you can estimate them with the free College Monte Carlo chances calculator.

    Does Columbia University offer early decision or early action?

    Columbia University offers early decision (binding). Applying early can help: its early-round acceptance rate is 13.2%, versus 3.9% overall.

    How much does Columbia University cost after financial aid?

    The average net price at Columbia University — the real cost after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price — is about $7,968 per year for families earning under $75,000, based on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data. Higher-income families generally pay more; see the full net-price-by-income breakdown.

    How much does Columbia University cost for a family earning $75,000?

    A family earning under $30,000 pays about $9,973 per year in net price at Columbia University, while families earning over $110,000 pay about $40,538 (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data). A family earning $75,000 falls in the $48,001–$75,000 bracket and pays about $8,186 per year after grants and scholarships.

    Not sure how to read these numbers? Start with our guide on how to estimate your admission chances. Columbia University offers a binding early-decision round, so weigh the trade-offs in our early decision vs. regular decision guide before committing.