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Columbia University Acceptance Rate for Indian Students
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The Columbia University is an Ivy League research university in Upper Manhattan, New York City, United States. When it comes to the Columbia University ranking, it has ranked #15 in National Universities and #38 in World University Rankings 2026.
Columbia University Acceptance Rate 2025
The no. of applications received by Columbia University for the Class of 2029 saw a slight decrease of -1% compared to the previous year, whereas the no.of students admitted saw an increase of 27%. As a result, the Columbia University acceptance rate 2025 stands at 4.9%, making the criteria for Columbia University admissions extremely tough. This is the largest ever freshman class till date.
Check stats for the Class of 2028 and the Class of 2029 for a comparative analysis:
|
Particulars |
Class of 2028 |
Class of 2029 |
|---|---|---|
|
Student Applications Received |
60,248 |
59,616 |
|
Students Admitted |
2,319 |
2,946 |
|
Acceptance Rate |
3.8% |
4.94% |
Also Check: Columbia University Courses
Columbia University Acceptance Rate for International Students
As per the latest data, the international students make up about 40% of the total student body, and 19% of the Class of 2029 accounts for the foreign crowd, representing 83 different countries. The student demographics for the Class of 2029 are given below:
| Racial/Ethnic Group | % |
|---|---|
| White | 47% |
| Asian American or Pacific Islander | 39% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 19% |
| Black/African American | 13% |
| Not Reported | 4% |
| Native/Indigenous | 3% |
As of Fall 2024, the total international student enrollment recorded at Columbia University campus was 13,745, representing 145 countries. The top ten countries of origin for the international crowd for the University of Columbia were:
|
Country |
Headcount of Enrolled Students |
|---|---|
|
China |
6,463 |
|
India |
1,241 |
|
Canada |
578 |
|
South Korea |
545 |
|
Indonesia |
302 |
|
France |
284 |
|
Taiwan |
259 |
|
United Kingdom |
257 |
|
Brazil |
192 |
|
Japan |
189 |
Columbia University Acceptance Rate Trends
The no. of applications received by Columbia University in the last six years has increased by 48.7% whereas the no. of student admissions has only increased by 19.5%. Due to this disparity, the Columbia University acceptance rate has decreased by -21%, suggesting increased stringency of selection criteria.
|
Class of |
Number of Applications Received |
Number of Students Accepted |
Columbia University Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2029 |
59,616 |
2,946 |
4.9% |
|
2028 |
60,248 |
2,319 |
3.8% |
|
2027 |
57,129 |
2,246 |
3.9% |
|
2026 |
60,377 |
2,253 |
3.7% |
|
2025 |
60,551 |
2,218 |
3.7% |
|
2024 |
40,084 |
2,465 |
6.2% |
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Columbia University Early Decision vs Regular Decision
As per available data, Columbia Uni received 5,872 applications under the Early Decision plan for the class of 2029, and 53,744 Regular Decision applications for the same academic session. The number of Early Decision applicants has decreased by 2% this year, since last year the figure stood at 6,008. Usually, the Columbia University early acceptance rate hovers between 10-15%, which is more than double the regular admission rate
| Class Year | Regular Acceptance Rate | Early Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2029 | TBD | TBD |
| 2028 | 2.9% | 13.2% |
| 2027 | 2.7% | 14.6% |
| 2026 | 2.7% | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 2.9% | 11.9% |
Also Check: Columbia University Cost
Columbia University Requirements for International Students
In order to secure enrollment, Indian students must fulfill all the Columbia University admission requirements. To be considered for full admission to any graduate program, applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree, GRE / GMAT scores, English language proficiency scores, etc. On the other hand, to get admission to UG courses, the applicants are required to have obtained secondary school qualifications.
Columbia University English Language Requirements
Columbia University admission requirements for international students include proof of proficiency in the English language as a major entry requirement. Students can submit IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo scores:
| Test | Score Requirements |
|---|---|
| TOEFL | 105 |
| IELTS | 7.5 |
| DET | 135 |
Columbia University Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores
In order to secure enrollment in Columbia University, students must appear for one of the standardized tests (SAT/ACT) or other entrance exams like GMAT/GRE for postgraduate courses. Below are some of the admission statistics for the Columbia UG Class of 2029:
|
Entrance Exams |
Average Score |
|---|---|
|
SAT |
1510 - 1560 |
|
ACT |
34 - 36 |
Tips to get selected at Columbia University
Columbia University is an extremely competitive university to get into, and thus, students must submit exceptional academic grades as well as excel in co-curricular activities.
Fulfilling the required Grade Point Average is one of the major entry requirements at Columbia, and international students must maintain a good GPA in order to boost their chances of getting admitted to the university. Other best practices include submission of high English language proficiency scores and maintaining good grades throughout academic life.
Columbia University Acceptance Rate vs Stanford University Acceptance Rate
The Columbia University acceptance rate for international students stands at 4.9%, whereas the Stanford University acceptance rate stands at 3.6%. The mere difference of just 1.6% tells us that securing admission in these top-tier universities is extremely and equally competitive.
Also read about Columbia University Placements
Columbia University FAQs
Yes, it is hard to get into the Columbia University as the university's acceptance rate is merely 3.85%. On a general basis, Columbia sends out admission offers to only 3 - 4 out of every 100 applicants. Hence, getting into this university is extremely competitive. However, students must not get discouraged.
Given below are some tips to get selected in Columbia University:
- Fulfill all the admission requirements of the course applying to;
- Submit strong letters of recommendation (lor) and impactful statement of purpose (sop);
- Maintain a GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher; and
- Possess a good character as the university admits students on the basis of a holistic approach.
It is interesting to note that every applicant has to go through largely identical admissions process at Columbia, regardless of their citizenship. Given below are the Columbia University entry requirements:
- Autobiographical information;
- Academic transcripts (English translation);
- Bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject;
- School Profile & Mid-year report;
- Statement of purpose (SOP) / Essay;
- Recommendations letters (LOR);
- SAT/ACT scores (optional);
- GMAT/GRE score (optional); and
- Other course-specific requirements.
Yes all students can apply through Early Decision at Columbia Uni regardless of their origin but they shouldn't expect special benefits, as their application will be treated equally and students applying for financial aid who fall out of "need-blind category" can also be deferred to Regular Decision.
As of 2024, out of the total 145 countries represented by the crowd at Columbia University, India is the 2nd top country of origin after China, with a total enrollment of 1,241. Of these, 72 students are UG students while 1,153 are PG students. Also, 16 are Non-degree Indian-origin students.
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