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Columbia University: Acceptance Rate, Admission Requirements India & Cost

Shiksha popularity ranking
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#19 in World

#12 in USA

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Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 4 Jun '26

Columbia University
What's new?

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  • Admissions are now open for the 2026 session at Columbia.
  • The upcoming Columbia University application deadline for international UG students is Nov 1, 2026

About Columbia University in New York

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Year of establishment
1754
University website
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Student website
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Total foreign students
10785
No. of campus
1
Endowment value
USD 1 billion
Scholarships granted
5002
Scholarship amount granted
USD 248 million
Application fees
USD 85
English proficiency test
Optional
Accepted exams
SAT/ACT accepted
Optional
Total faculty
7141
Faculty/Student ratio
6
Total criminal offences
247
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Commonly asked questions
On Highlights
Q:   Is Columbia better for Indian students than Harvard?
A: 

Not if you go by their overall university rankings. While both rank in and around the top 10 universities in the US, Harvard (#2) ranks well ahead of Columbia (#12), in national level rankings, given by Shiksha. 

Though Harvard offers more course options, and overall brand recognition, Columbia is considered by many as the better of the two for its Engineering courses, something Harvard is not known for.

Q:   What is the highest package of Columbia University?
A: 

The highest salary earned by graduates of the Columbia Uni USA is USD 450,000 (INR 4.3 Cr) in the Real Estate industry. This is three times the average salary package students got offered in the Real Estate industry. The average package for students in Real Estate was USD 150,000 (INR 1.43 Cr) for the MBA Class of 2025.

Q:   How many Indian students attend Columbia University?
A: 

India had around 1,241 students at Columbia, by Fall 2024, the second the largest international community of students, behind only China (6,463). Of these, around 72 were enrolled in UG, 1,153 in graduate, and 16 in non-degree courses at Columbia Uni.

Q:   How to get into Columbia University from India after 12th?
A: 

Getting into Columbia can be hard but as an Indian student you can get in if you follow some basic steps of the Columbia University application process, take a look - 

  • First things first, start by registering yourself on the application portal
  • Then, you would have to put your personal details and a really good essay on why Columbia?  
  • Now, upload all the required documents and pay the Columbia application fee 
  • At the last, all you can do is wait for a decision from the uni. 

Columbia University Ranking 2026

#19

World level
Shiksha Popularity Rank
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#12

Country level
Shiksha Popularity Rank
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Commonly asked questions
On Rankings
Q:   Which is harder to get into as an Indian student, Harvard or Columbia?
A: 

As an Indian student, it's not easy to get into either. Your chances of admission at admission stand at 4.94% at Columbia. If you think this is low, Harvard accepted its Class of 2028 at a rate of 3.6%. This means Harvard asks you to put in that extra effort.

Q:   What is the Columbia University QS Ranking 2026?
A: 

The Columbia University QS Ranking 2026 in USA is #12. On a global level, it ranks #38. Columbia has maintained its spot among the top 50 universities in the world for the 3rd year in a row.

Mentioned below is how it has ranked as part of the QS World Rankings in the last 3 years:

Year202620252024
Columbia University QS World Ranking#38#34#23
Q:   Is Columbia a good research university?
A: 

It is among a select group of R1 institutions in the US, which are known for their very high research activity.

The university's scientists are known for conducting hundreds of innovative tasks in Health sciences each year. Also a number of his medicines have also reached the market, with some notable ones including: Xalatan, Remixade, Reopro, Benefix, Latanoprost & Zolinza

How to get into Columbia University from India?

  • Application fees :USD 78.3 - 250
  • Type of deadline :Depends on course
Document IconDocuments
Type of documentsApplicable for
SOPNeeded for few courses
LORNeeded for few courses
EssaysNeeded for few courses
CVNeeded for few courses
Additional documentsRequired
How to Write Columbia MBA Essays in 2024?
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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   Can I transfer to Columbia University from my current college or university? How?
A: 

Yes, students can transfer to Columbia New York from their current college or university if they meet the conditions given below.

  • Got atleast 24 credits at another institution
  • Have a high school diploma
  • Not completed more than 4 semesters of coursework

The chances of admission via transfer are low, but possible. Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors guide students for FREE on how they can transfer to Columbia University in New York.

Q:   What should Indian students highlight in their extracurriculars to get into an Ivy League University like Columbia?
A: 

Indian students applying to Ivy League universities like Columbia need to highlight leadership, measurable impact across activities, and passion to build projects and help the community.

Mentioned below are some things Indian students need to take care of when submitting extracurriculars at Columbia or other Ivy League universities:

  • Mention building projects with real-world use
  • Highlight times when you lead teams
  • Mention research work, Olympiad medals or national competition success
Q:   Which is harder to get into Columbia or NYU?
A: 

Columbia accepts around 4 applications for every 100 it receives. Its acceptance rate was 4.29% for the Class of 2029. NYU accepts twice the number of applications, at an 8% acceptance rate. You would have to work hard to get into either. However, at NYU you have a better chance.

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

As an Indian student, 3.0 is generally considered the bare minimum if you want to study at Columbia Uni. For Engineering, a minimum 3.3 in your past academics is needed. Make sure to maintain a good profile non-academically as well. 







Columbia University
Columbia University Scholarships for Indian Students 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Scholarships
Q:   Does Columbia University give athletic scholarships?
A: 

No, Columbia Uni does not offer athletic scholarships to Indian students. It is part of the NCAA Div I Ivy League. This status does not allow it to offer merit-based or athletic financial aid to Indian students. However, student-athletes can receive need-based aid under certain-conditions.

Students can check columbia.edu to know more.

Q:   Is it true that Indian students can attend Columbia University tuition-free?
A: 

Yes, it is possible for Indian students to attend Columbia Uni, free of cost. This depends on the family income and admission type of a student. Columbia Uni promises to meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need of all admitted students, irrespective of citizenship.

UG students from families with annual income less than USD 150,000 (INR 1.43 Cr) are eligible for need-based aid at Columbia. Indian student application is assessed on a need-aware basis.

Q:   Can I get a 100% Scholarship at Columbia University?
A: 

Yes, as an Indian student, if your family's annual income is less than USD 6,000 (INR 5.4 L), you can get a 100% Scholarship at Columbia. Your parents don't need to contribute anything towards your cost of attendance. More information can be found on the scholarships page.

1 USD = INR 89.86

Q:   What is the last date for Indian students to apply for scholarships at Columbia University?
A: 

Scholarship deadlines at Columbia University vary for different financial aid programs. Most scholarship applications at Columbia Uni in New York are submitted in Early April.

However, some scholarships also accept applications later during the year. For MBA, Indian students can apply for Columbia University scholarships by Oct 15, 2026.

Columbia University Popular Courses

MS
M.A.
MBA/PGDM
B.A.
More

₹61.43 LGet Fee Details

₹61.13 LGet Fee Details

₹69.94 LGet Fee Details

₹70.15 LGet Fee Details

₹87.76 LGet Fee Details

View AllMS Courses

Columbia University Post Study Job Outcomes

Top Recruiters

Google
IBM
Merrill Lynch
Motorola
Bank of America
Goldman Sachs
Exxon
Barclays Bank
Ernst & Young
Microsoft
AT&T
Credit Suisse
Boeing
pwc
Morgan Stanley
Ford Motors
General Motors
Wells Fargo
Grant Thornton
CITI Bank
Procter Gamble
Deutsche Bank
Texas Instrument
E&Y
Visit official career services website External Link Icon
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Commonly asked questions
On Placements
Q:   How can I find part-time jobs as an Indian student at Columbia University?
A: 

Columbia Uni in New York gives Indian students many internships and part-time jobs in New York. This includes working as teaching or research assistants under the university faculty.

Students can use online portals like Columbia Global Centre or the Center for Career Education. There is also a handshake portal for students to find work at.

Q:   Which are the best paying industries for MBA graduates of the Columbia Uni?
A: 

Consulting, Investment Management, Real Estate, Private Equity, and Investment Banking are the top 5 best paying industries for MBA graduates at Columbia Uni. Given below is the average salary offered by these industries to students.

Industry

the highest Salary offered in USD

the highest Salary offered in INR

Real Estate

USD 450,000

INR 4.1 Cr

Private Equity

USD 400,000

INR 3.6 Cr

Investment Management

USD 290,000

INR 2.6 Cr

Consulting

USD 250,000

INR 2.25 Cr

Investment Banking

USD 225,000

INR 2.02 Cr

1 USD = INR 89.90

Q:   Which companies hire Columbia University graduates?
A: 

FAANG companies, Consultancy firms, Law firms, and Finance giants hire MBA graduates from the Columbia B-School. Given below is a list of some popular names who hired graduates of the Class of 2025.

CompanyNumber of Graduates Hired
McKinsey & Company62
Boston Consulting Group62
Amazon21
PricewaterhouseCoopers24
Bain & Company33







Columbia University Cost for Indian Students 2026

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Courses1st Year Tuition FeesDuration & Eligibility
MS(76 courses)
INR 31 L - 100 LGet Fee Details
Duration9 months-3 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 99 - 114, PTE: 68 & Above, Duolingo: 130 - 134, GRE, IELTS: 6.5 - 7.5, GMAT
M.A.(137 courses)
INR 22 L - 72 LGet Fee Details
Duration9 months-4 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 100 - 114, PTE, Duolingo: 130 & Above, GRE, IELTS: 7 - 8, GMAT
MBA/PGDM(19 courses)
INR 50 L - 88 LGet Fee Details
Duration9 months-2 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 99 - 114, PTE: 68 & Above, IELTS: 6.5 - 7.5, Duolingo: 130 & Above, GRE, GMAT
B.A.(54 courses)
INR 64 L - 66 LGet Fee Details
Duration4-5 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 100 - 105, PTE, Duolingo: 135 & Above, IELTS: 7 - 7.5
Others PG(28 courses)
INR 31 L - 1 CrGet Fee Details
Duration9 months-2 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 100 - 114, PTE, Duolingo, GRE, IELTS: 7.5 - 8, GMAT
B.E. / B.Tech(14 courses)
INR 57 L - 66 LGet Fee Details
Duration4 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 7 - 7.5, TOEFL: 100 - 105, PTE, Duolingo: 135 & Above
B.Sc.(20 courses)
INR 64 L - 66 LGet Fee Details
Duration4 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 7 - 7.5, TOEFL: 105 & Above, PTE, Duolingo: 135 & Above
BBA(7 courses)
INR 65 L - 66 LGet Fee Details
Duration4 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 7 - 7.5, TOEFL: 105 & Above, PTE, Duolingo: 135 & Above
MPH(6 courses)
INR 26 L - 59 LGet Fee Details
Duration1 year-30 months
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 100 & Above, PTE, Duolingo: 135 & Above, GRE, GMAT, IELTS: 7.5 & Above
M.Arch(6 courses)
INR 58 L - 100 LGet Fee Details
Duration16 months-4 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, IELTS, GRE
Read more
View Course Wise Fees ->
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Commonly asked questions
On Fees and Eligibility
Q:   How much does it cost to pursue an AI Program at Columbia University USA?
A: 

USD 3,666 (INR 3.3 L) per year or USD 22,000 (INR 19.76 L) overall, is what an AI Certificate Program would cost you at Columbia. You would also have to pay USD 105 (INR 9.4 K) as document fee and USD 500 (INR 44.9 K) as the enrollment deposit.

1 USD = INR 89.86

Q:   Can Indian students pay their fees in installments at Columbia University?
A: 

Yes, Indian students can pay the Columbia University fees in monthly installments. The fees can be paid in 5 monthly payments per semester (Fall or Spring) or 10 monthly payments over the year.

Students can pay via Automatic bank payment (ACH). Fees will be deducted on the 5th of every month from the bank account authorized at the time of sign-up.

Fees cannot be paid installments using wire transfer or a foreign bank account.

Q:   What is the cost of an MS in Computer Science at Columbia University?
A: 

The Columbia University MS in CS fees, for international students is around USD 64,800 or INR 56.75 L for the first year. The cost is the same for all graduate engineering programs with 12 points per semester, and tends to typically increase by 2-7% from second year onwards.

The overall Columbia University cost of attendance for international students, enrolled in graduate engineering courses, with 12 points or more per semester, is USD 103,304 or INR 90.5 L.







Columbia University
Student profile

Quick university statsInsights on student demographics, enrolment, and academic success
UG Race

Others

58%

Asian

18%

Hispanic

15%

Black

7%

UG Student residence

Out of state

63%

In state

19%

Foreign

16%

UG Applicant Icon

UG Number of Applicant

60879
grad RateIcon

Overall Graduation Rate

95

Columbia University Notable Alumni

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Commonly asked questions
On Alumni
Q:   What did Sara Ali Khan study in Columbia University?
A: 

Bollywood Actress Sara Ali Khan, graduated with a BA in History and Political Science from the Columbia University, before embarking on her acting journey in 2018. 

Her very first film, Kedarnath, bough her a Filmfare Award, a Screen Award and an IIFA Award. Some of her other notable works include: Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Sky Force, Metro In Dino, Atrangi Re and Simmba. 

Q:   Which famous Marvel and DC director attended Columbia University?
A: 

James Gunn is among those to have attended Columbia. He graduated with a Master of Fine Arts, having pursued his UG studies at St. Louis University
Gunn has directed several hit comic book movies and shows which includes The Guardians of the Galaxy Trilogy, Superman, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker

Q:   How do Columbia University alumni support Indian students?
A: 

Columbia Uni alumni offers dedicated career support services, mentorships, and pre-departure "send-offs", and career networking. The university partners students with the Columbia Alumni Association of India and the Columbia Global Centers, to guide them during their studies. 

College comparison

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Compare Columbia University with other similar colleges

MS
M.A.
MBA/PGDM
B.A.
Others PG
B.E. / B.Tech
B.Sc.
BBA
MPH
M.Arch
College1st Year Tuition FeesRanking
INR 31.04 L - 99.59 L#43 QS, 2027
INR 42.04 L - 82.95 L#16 QS, 2027
INR 49.01 L - 58.96 L#27 QS, 2027
INR 29.99 L - 1.05 Cr#58 QS, 2027
INR 19.65 L - 67.33 L#16 QS, 2027
INR 36.78 L - 86.45 L#20 QS, 2027
The values are of the latest years available with Shiksha. For more details, check detailed comparison
View comparisons
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Columbia University
Studying in USA

Key Facts About USA

Insights on education, demographics & weather.
Education in USA
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963+
backpack Key Fact Icon
3.38L
cashRegister Key Fact Icon
20 hours per week
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12 months
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Washington D.C.
keyUsers Key Fact Icon
347.28M (2025)
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2%
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July
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Popular LocationsMinMax
Boston1928
New York2129
Chicago00
Los Angeles1829
Explore popular study abroad destinations

Columbia University New York Campus

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Commonly asked questions
On Additional Details 1
Q:   Is Indian food available at the Columbia University?
A: 

Yes, Indian food is available at the dining of the Columbia Uni campus. On-campus dining options include the Fac Shack (Faculty House) that serves Indian-inspired dishes (such as chana masala) for lunch.

There are several Indian restaurants nearby that also serve Indian food. This includes Roti Roll, Indian Summer Harlem, and the Anar Indian restaurant.

Q:   Is Morningside Heights a nice area?
A: 

Morningside Heights is considered among the safest neighbourhoods in New York City.

All Columbia owned buildings in the area are operated & managed by university employees & the institute takes extra measures to provide a safe & supportive residential environment for all members of the community.

Columbia's Department of Public Safety oversees all security & safety procedures, while the Morningside Area Alliance also provides security patrols. 

Evening & Night shuttles are available during evenings & nights throughout the neighbourhood to Columbia students over the academic year.

Q:   Is Columbia University campus safe for Indian students?
A: 

Yes, the Columbia University campus is generally considered safe for all students, including Indians. The university operates a number of safety services that includes:

  • Columbia University EMS, a dedicated ambulance service, always on duty, that provides medical assistance at no extra cost. 
  • Safety Escort Program: A Walking Escort program, that can be taken up at any time of the day and seven days a week around the university campus
  • On-Demand Evening Shuttle: Operates seven days a week, every evening until 3 am around the Morningside and Manhattanville campus.
Q:   What is the significance of being a Division 1 athlete at Columbia University?
A: 

The significance of being a Division 1 athlete is it comes with better tuition benefits & a higher level of competition as compared to the lower divisions. The chances of D1 athletes becoming professional players is also much higher as a bigger number of scouts watch these games.

The lower division athletes, however, do have more flexibility when it comes to time & pursuing other extracurricular activities.

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Comments

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Columbia University

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

Students who are willing to apply at Columbia University can do so via Columbia SIPA Application Management portal before the deadlines. Next step for the application process is to submit the listed documents. Then the students need to pay a non-refundable fee of USD 95 that is INR 9.13 K. Once the

...Read more

K

Khushi Arora

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

There are 5 MPA Courses available at Columbia University for a duration of 21 months to 4 years. The tuition fee for MPA Courses are INR 57.8 L – 64.53 L. The 5 different specializations are-

·       Master of Public Administration (21 months)

·       MPA in Economic Policy Management (1 year)

·      

...Read more

K

Khushi Arora

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

There are various components of fee when studying abroad. There are charges for everything, food, hostel, insurance and transport. The tuition fee for MPA courses are INR 57.8 L – 64.53 L.

Fee Component

Amount

Tuition

INR 58.21 L - 64.98 L

Hostel

INR 17.36 L

Insurance

INR 4.71 L

Transportation

INR 1.26 L

Others

INR 4.66 L

Total fee

INR 86.19 L - 92.96 L

K

Khushi Arora

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

The requirements vary for every course. The MPA course refers to Masters in Public Administration. The requirements are as follows:

·       Academic Transcripts – UG Degree

·       English Language Tests (IELTS -7.5, TOEFL iBT -100, Cambridge English - 191)

·       Work Exp (3-5 years)

·       Reference

...Read more

K

Khushi Arora

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

No, the class 10 performance is not the primary factor in Columbia University admissions

These admissions are holistic, which means the candidates' profiles are evaluated fully rather than focusing heavily on a single year

Columbia University expects Indian students to have a strong performance in

...Read more

78590552
Loveleen Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

About the author

author image
Akash Gaur

Study Abroad Expert

Akash Gaur, a BTech grad from Ghaziabad, is working as a Content Writer at Shiksha.com. In his role as a Study Abroad expert, Akash takes care of key pages for colleges and universities abroad. He creates, updates, and maintains p... Read Full Bio

Columbia University

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Columbia University
Location

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University CityNew York, New York, USA
Size of cityLarge
Population of City86,22,697

Columbia University
Campuses

Departments Icon1   Campuses
Morningside Heights CampusUp Arrow Icon
Address

116th and Broadway, New York, NY 10027

Visit official site External Link Icon

Columbia University
Contact Information

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)

ugrad-ask@columbia.edu

(For admission query)

Go to College Website ->