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Columbia University Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

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Columbia University Admissions
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International undergraduate students can take Columbia University admission in Early or Regular decision. The Early decision application deadline is Nov 1, 2025, where, Regular decision application deadline is in early Jan 2026. Graduate programs priority deadlines and regular deadlines in Jan 2026, and Feb 2026. Additionally, students can check Columbia University application deadlines along with financial aid and enrollment deferrals below:

First year applicants/ Undergraduate Deadlines:

Early Decision:

Application Deadline: Nov 1, 2025

Response Deadline (if admitted): Early January 2026

Regular Decision:

Application Deadline: Jan 1, 2026

Financial Aid Application Deadline: Feb 15, 2026

Admissions/Financial Aid Decision Release: Late Mar 2026

Postgraduate Deadline: 

Columbia Engineering:

Master's Programs: 

Priority deadline: Jan 15, 2026

Regular deadline: Feb 15, 2026 

Columbia University Computer Science:

Spring: Oct 15, 2025

Columbia School of Professional Studies (SPS):

Certificate Programs:

Early application deadline: Oct 15, 2025(tentative)

Final deadline: Dec 1, 2025 (tentative)

Things to keep in mind before applying:

  • Deadlines are generally Eastern Time (ET). 
  • International applicants must try to apply early to secure visas. 
  • Some programs have specific deadlines and decision release dates. 
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Columbia University Admissions 2025

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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   What time is the Columbia University application deadline?
A: 

Columbia University offers applications to international undergraduate and graduate applicants at the start and end of the year. Undergraduate applicants can take Early or Regular admission, whereas postgraduate students' application deadlines vary based on the college and specialization. The UG and PG application deadline for international students are given below:

Particulars

Deadline

Early Decision UG

Nov 1, 2025

Regular Decision UG

Jan 1, 2026

Columbia Engineering PG

Jan 15, 2026

Computer Science PG

Feb 15, 2026

Columbia School of Professional Studies (Early)

Oct 15, 2025

Columbia University MS Admissions 2024

74 courses 9 months - 24 years
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29.2L - 93.7L

iconEligibility Criteria

  • Accepting Exams: TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, GRE, IELTS, GMAT
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Commonly asked questions
On MS Admissions
Q:   What does Columbia University look for in students?
A: 

The university seeks students who can take advantage of Columbia's experience and will return something meaningful to the community. They prefer students whose interests, skills, goals, and values align closely with them. Columbia University looks at various academic and non-academic factors in international or domestic students. Some crucial factors along with their level of importance are discussed below:

Academic/Non-Academic Factors

Level of Importance

Rigor of secondary school records

Very Important

Class rank

Important

Academic GPA

Very Important

Application Essay

Very Important

Extracurricular activity

Important

Character/Personal quality

Very Important

Q:   Is Columbia Data Science Masters worth it?
A: 

Yes, it is worth studying MS in Data Science at Columbia University because of better placement opportunities. Columbia Data Science Masters allows students to apply data Science techniques to their field of interest. Master of Science in Data Science is one of the most highly-rated and sought-after advanced data Science programs in the world. Columbia is a perfect choice to study MS in Data Science in the USA for international students. Columbia University graduates are placed in the top companies listed below:

  • Alibaba

  • Amazon

  • Citibank

  • IBM

  • Microsoft

Students can also check the list of Top 10 Master of Data Science Colleges in USA

How to get into Columbia University?

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Commonly asked questions
On Application Process
Q:   How much is a 1-year tuition at Columbia University in Indian rupees?
A: 

The Columbia University tuition fees for international applicants are based on the programs and the year of study. The tuition cost is quite high for Indians, and ranges between INR 51L and INR 59 L for undergraduate and INR 20L and INR 1.23 Cr for postgraduate. Students must make a separate budget for housing and food, books, and personal expenses, and more. Students can check the table below for the first-year tuition fees of popular programs:

Courses

1st Year Tuition Fees

BBA (7 courses)

INR 58 L - 59 L

B.E. / B.Tech (14 courses)

INR 52 L - 59 L

B.A. (55 courses)

INR 58 L - 59 L

M.A. (140 courses)

INR 20 L - 75 L

MS (74 courses)

INR 28 L - 1 Cr

MBA/PGDM (19 courses)

INR 45 L - 80 L

Others PG (28 courses)

INR 28 L - 1 Cr

B.Sc. (20 courses)

INR 58 L - 59 L

MBA/PGDM6 (6 courses)

INR 52 L - 84 L

Columbia University Enrollment Statistics 2025

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Commonly asked questions
On Admission
Q:   How long does it take to hear back from Columbia University?
A: 

Columbia University usually replies in 6 to 8 weeks, once applied for undergraduate or graduate studies. Students must make sure they fulfill the basic eligibility requirements and submit all the required documents before paying application deadline, and apply. The school of General Studies provide their decision in Mar of Fall intake and Oct of Spring intake.

Q:   What are some tips to get into Columbia University for undergrad?
A: 

 Some of the tips for students starting their first-semester at the Columbia University are:

  • Students who applied for Columbia University must be humble and should interact with as many people as possible. Mainly beacause, the more people you talk to the better knowledge you get. 
  • Attend as many gathering and parties as much as you can. 
  • Applicants should avoid missing classess, as 70% of learning comes from students going to classes. 
  • Students can get invovlved with extracuricular activities, i.e joing university clubs, sports etc. This will also look good on a portfolio in the longer run. 

Columbia University
Students Ratings & Reviews

3.8/5
Verified Icon2 Verified ReviewsInfo Icon
Student Views (Based on Reviews)
  • 67% students never faced discrimination in this university
Vibe of Campus
Academically oriented
Multi-dimensional
Friendly
Liberal
Internships3.5
Part time work3.5
Post study jobs4
Quality of faculty5
Student Life3.5
Value for money2.5
Public transportation5
Safety4
Indian Food3.5
Permanent Immigration3.5
N
Nithishma Allu Verified Icon
MS in Computer Science - Batch of 2024
4.6
Columbia University: Fostering Brilliance and Innovation
Tips: Networking is the key. Make as many connections as possible. New York is an amazing place to be and make the most of it. There is a Shardarshish scholarship which waves 50% tuition fees and also numerous graduate research assistant roles available if interested.
Likes (Quality of faculty): The diversity of faculty is amazing with most of them graduating from the top universities. Their knowledge on the subject is remarkable and they challenge you to be better and work harder. They let you engage in projects and conduct many office hours for discussions
Dislikes (Internships): The coursework and the brand value added because of Columbia University is great which lands you in a good internship but there are comparatively fewer career fairs than other universities. The career advisors are super helpful in guiding and suggesting changes to resumes and cover letters.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1500
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 150000
Reviewed on 11 Feb 2024Read more
Thumbs Up Icon(1) Thumbs Down Icon1 person found this helpful
A
AnonymousVerified Icon
MS in Data Science - Batch of 2026
3.6
Columbia is an expensive school, and the competition is very fierce.
Tips: Be mentally prepared before coming, the scholarships are rare, you need to be best at what you do. The competition is fierce, and things are not so dreamy anymore in the USA. But if you are good at it, you can make it. I am satisfied, hopefully I will get a job, and it will be easier for me.
Likes (Quality of faculty): Mostly, the faculty are adjunct faculty, giving a more practical experience. The faculty is diverse and well-rounded, and the way things are done here is different from in India. They are more concerned with practicality than with theoretical knowledge, so you need to study and prepare on your own.
Dislikes (Value for money): Columbia is an expensive school, and the competition is very fierce. Off-campus jobs don't pay well compared to the living costs. There are better private schools that offer scholarships you can attend. Brand value still matters in today's world, though.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2300
Prepping time for classes27 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 87000
Reviewed on 1 May 2025Read more
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A
AnonymousVerified Icon
Computer Science Master's Degree - Vision, Graphics, Interaction and Robotics - Batch of 2026
3
Ivy League Tag does not work anymore.
Tips: No overwhelming cultural shift that I have experienced as of now. I didn't get any scholarship, they pay you nothing, no on campus jobs and even if you get any, you'll be paid peanuts. You basically take a crore rupees loan, study and work like a machine and still end up with no internship call, no certainty about jobs.
Likes (Quality of faculty): Excellent faculty, coursework, teaching and most importantly research. But don't expect to get paid for your research. They won't pay you. They'll ask you to take it for credit. All professors are great researchers and top in their domain but not all are good teachers.
Dislikes (Value for money): It's very expensive with zero or very few on campus jobs paying you peanuts. No proper career fair for internships. Uncertainty of jobs, constantly changing government regulations, disregarding all the effort and money we put to study here. Disregard for your skill and knowledge.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2125
Prepping time for classes50 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 80575
Reviewed on 28 Sep 2025Read more
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View All 3 ReviewsRight Arrow Icon

Columbia University Admission FAQs

Q:   What GPA do I need to get into Columbia MBA?
A: 

Columbia Business School does not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission to its MBA program. But according to unofficial sources the average GPA of admitted applicants at Columbia MBA is 3.6. Moreover, 80% of the class have a GPA between 3.1 and 3.9.

Q:   How difficult is to get into Columbia University Engineering?
A: 

Admission to Columbia University Engineering course is exceptionally challening, mainly beacuse of it's rigorous standards and also beacuse it's one of the top Ivy league. The Columbia University's acceptance rate is just 3.9%. That means only 3.9 out of 100 people are selected. However, students aiming to study at Columbia University for Engineering course should not be demotivated by the acceptance rate. As all they need to do is follow the requirements thoroughly and give a strong portfolio that would pursuade the faculty or team of Columbia University. 

Q:   Does Columbia University require an English proficiency test?
A: 

International students must be comfortable with rapid and idiomatic spoken English to be considered for Columbia University admission. Students can demonstrate that they are proficient in English by submitting the English proficiency test scores.

  • Your home language is English.

  • Your primary language of instruction at school has been English for the duration of your secondary school career.

  • You earned one or more of the following subsection scores:

  1. 700 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT

  2. 29 or higher on the English or Reading sections of the ACT

Note: If candidates meet, one or more of the above criteria, then fulfilled Columbia’s English language proficiency requirement. If they do not, then they need to take one of the following English Language Proficiency exams:

Want to have a good score in IELTS? then check out : Free IELTS classes

English proficiency test

Scores

TOEFL

A minimum score of 105

IELTS

A minimum score of 7.5

DET

A minimum score of 135

Also check, the IELTS Indicator

Q:   What are the requirements for a Columbia MBA application?
A: 

Columbia Business Schools requires that the work contained in the applicant’s application is accurate. Offers of admission will be rescinded should any misrepresentation and/or omission occur. Students can check below the requirements for the Columbia MBA application:

  • Academic Transcripts

  • GPA

  • GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE Score

  • Resume

  • Essays

  • Recommendation

  • Application Submitted/Received

  • Interview

  • Application Fee

  • Re-applicant Checklist

  • Deposits

Q:   What is the Columbia University ranking in the world?
A: 

Major ranking providers like QS and Times Higher Education rank Columbia University among the top universities in the world while US News has ranked it among the top 15 Universities in the World for 2025. Given below are Columbia University world ranking as mentioned in the prominent rankings:

Ranking Source

World Ranking 2025

QS - World University Ranking

#34

THE (Times Higher Education) - University Ranking

#18

US News & World Report - Global Universities

#13

Students can also check the list of the World's Top 100 Universities 

Q:   Is Columbia MBA hard to get into?
A: 

Yes, it is hard to get admission into the Columbia MBA programme because of the high competition. The Columbia University acceptance rate for the MBA programme is around 22%. For the class of 2022, the Columbia Business School receive 6177 applications out of which 1363 are admitted to the Columbia MBA program. International students require a good GPA and academic profile to get into the university Students can know more about MBA in the USA and then apply.

Q:   Does Columbia MBA require GMAT?
A: 

International applicants looking to study MBA at Columbia must submit their GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE score when applying. Columbia Business School considers scores to be valid for five years after your test date. Students can check below the GMAT score and other test scores required for MBA admission 2024:

Exam

Score

GMAT Scores (average)

729

GMAT Scores (range)

550 – 780

GMAT Scores (middle 80%)

700 – 760

Undergraduate GPA (average)

3.6

Undergraduate GPA (middle 80%)

3.1 – 3.9

Q:   How many schools are at Columbia University?
A: 

 21 schools at Columbia University offers various comprising undergraduate and postgraduate options to students. Check below the list of Columbia schools:

Columbia University Schools

Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, & Preservation

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences  

School of the Arts

Barnard College

Columbia Business School

Columbia Climate School

Columbia College

Columbia Journalism School

Columbia Law School

College of Dental Medicine

Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

School of General Studies

School of International and Public Affairs

Jewish Theological Seminary

School of Nursing

Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Teachers College

School of Social Work

Union Theological Seminary

School of Professional Studies

Mailman School of Public Health

Q:   Does Columbia have an entrance exam?
A: 

Columbia University is test-optional for applicants to Columbia College or Columbia Engineering. Standardized testing is not a required component of the Columbia application. International students may choose to submit testing or choose not to submit test scores. Below are the testing policies for students who do choose to submit testing:

  • Take either the ACT or the SAT

  • Columbia does not consider the optional writing section

  • Students can take standardized tests as late as November for Early Decision and January for Regular Decision

  • International applicants and non-native speakers of English should refer to our English proficiency requirements:

  1. TOEFL - A minimum score of 105

  2. IELTS - A minimum score of 7.5

  3. DET - A minimum score of 135

Q:   Is Columbia University good for MBA?
A: 

Yes, it is a good choice for international students to study Columbia University MBA in the USA because of its high ranking in the world. Columbia ranks among the top 10 MBA universities in the world since 2021. According to QS MBA Ranking 2023, the university ranks 8th in the world and 5th in the USA for business studies.

Columbia Business School

Statistics

Students enrolled

2,472

International Student %

39.4%

Alumni

49,308

Graduate Employed

95% (within first three months)

Countries Represented

123

Q:   What is unique about Columbia MBA?
A: 

Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most popular courses offered by Columbia Uni and students across the globe desire to pursue this course. Mentioned below are some interesting facts of the Columbia University MBA course:

  • MBA course stands in the top 10 business schools across the world.
  • Median salary of an MBA graduate of Columbia University is USD 175,000 per year.
  • Columbia Business School (CBS) is about 12 km from New York City which paves the way for students to have one of the best job opportunities in the world. New York City is known as "door to success"
  • Columbia University MBA is in seventh position in Forbes’ list of Best US Business Schools and sixth in US News’ Best Business School (US) list.
  • Its core structure consists of two full-term courses and eight half-term courses, forming the foundational experience for its students. This core curriculum is designed to help students with a deep understanding of essential academic disciplines and practical skills for success in the competitive business world. 
Q:   Does Columbia University give athletic scholarships?
A: 

Yes, Columbia University is known to offer athletic scholarships for a number of sports including American Football.

The scholarships are given on the basis of need & overall performance of a student & are available for NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA & NJCAA.

As per data curated from unofficial sources, 34% athletes at the university are awarded scholarships.

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Akansha katariya is a content creator at shiksha.com, creating content for study abroad. Having pursued B tech. in Electronics and communication from RGPV University, she has been creating content across diverse domains. When not guiding students, sh...Read Full Bio

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Columbia University
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Columbia University
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Address

116th and Broadway, New York, NY 10027, United States

New York

Phone
212-854-4400

(For general query)

212-854-2522

(For admission query)

Email
registrar@columbia.edu

(For general query)

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(For admission query)

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