

Columbia Business School - Acceptance Rate, Ranking, Fees
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- About Columbia Business School
- Columbia Business School Courses and Fees 2025
- Columbia University Business & Management Studies Popular Courses
- Columbia University Business & Management Studies Popular Programs
- Columbia Business School Rankings 2026
- Columbia Business School Admissions Dates 2025
- Columbia Business School Admissions 2026
- Columbia Business School Placements 2026
- Columbia Business School Vs. The Wharton School. Which is better?
- Columbia Business School Campus Life
- Columbia Business School Notable Alumni
- Columbia University Business & Management Studies Students reviews
About Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School, also known as CBS, is the Business School of Columbia University, which is situated in New York.CBS was established in 1916 as a private research university with the help of generous funding from Emerson McMillan. This B-School enjoys the privilege of being an Ivy League business school, which is also one of the oldest in the world. The Columbia Business School has three campuses: Manhattanville Campus – Kravis Hall, Manhattanville Campus – David Geffen Hall, and Morningside Heights – Uris Hall, which is also the oldest campus of CBS. The new campus of this B-school, is Manhattanville Ville Campus – David Geffen Hall, is spread across two buildings covering an area of approximately 492,000 square feet of academic and administrative space. These buildings were designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Collaborative, and AARRIS ATEPA Architects.
|
Columbia Business School (MBA) |
Validation |
|---|---|
|
Acceptance Rate (MBA Class 2024) |
8.07% |
|
US World and News Ranking (2025) |
9 |
|
Known for |
Finance, New York City as its location, and a diverse student body |
|
Nobel Laureates |
1 (Joseph E. Stiglitz) |
|
MBA Class Size (2026) |
782 |
|
Students who accepted the job offer |
86.4% |
|
Average GMAT Score (Class 2024) |
732 with a range of 600 to 780 |
|
Average Package after graduating (2024) |
USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr) |
|
Average GRE Quant Score (Class 2026) |
162 with a range of 143 to 170 |
|
Average GRE Verbal Score (Class 2026) |
162 with a range of 146 to 170 |
|
Average GPA (Class 2026) |
3.6 on a scale of 4.0 |
|
Average Work Experience (Class 2026) |
5 Years |
|
Average Signing Bonus (2024) |
USD 30,000 (INR 25.3 L) |
Columbia University History
In the year 2010, CBS received the largest donation for the construction of the buildings from Henry Kravis, the billionaire co-founder of private equity firm KKR. The donation was a whopping sum of USD 100 million, and in the year 2012, Ronald Perelman also donated USD 100 million to CBS. As a nice gesture, these two newly built buildings on the campus were named after these donors.
(USD 1 = INR 88.63)
Commonly asked questions On About Business & Management Studies
# Is Columbia Business School an Ivy League?
The Columbia University has four schools under it, one of which is Columbia Business School which is the B-School. Yes, Columbia University is an Ivy League because it is one of the eight private institutions of higher education in the North eastern region of the United States with high academic reputation.
This B-School is considered an Ivy League because:
· Location: CBS is the only Ivy in New York City. NYC is widely popular due to the close proximity to an abundance of career opportunities.
· Financial Aid: The CBS offers need based scholarships to the students and its financial aid package if considered one of the richest in the world.
· Curriculum: The Business and Management curriculum of this CBS is aimed on industry relevance and high employability.
Columbia Business School is ranked #9 by the US News and World Report 2025 among the top 133 Business schools of the world. CBS MBA graduates are known for their calibre in understanding the Business and Management world and making innovations to it.
The CBS Placement rate for the MBA class 2024 stands at 89% (within three months of graduation) with the average median salary of USD 175,000 (INR 1.60 Cr.). The CBS MBA tuition for the first year, excluding accommodation, living expenses, and health insurance, is USD 88,300 (INR 74.5 L), which can go up to USD 132,258 (INR 1.11 Cr) with all other expenses.
The CBS MBA graduates get placed in companies like McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Amazon, etc. for roles in consulting, financial services, health care, fintech, etc. If a student is looking for a B-school with a great location, rigorous curriculum, career exposure, and academic excellence, then yes, Columbia Business School can be worth it.
As part of the Columbia Business School application process, the international students are required to submit the Undergraduates scores such as GPA. The average GPA of CBS MBA Class 2024 is 3.5 on a scale of 4.0. To sum up, the students are suggested to have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to be enrolled at this B-school. Other than average GPA, other Columbia Business School MBA admission requirements include:
Average Scores CBS MBA Profile(Class 2026) | Scores |
|---|---|
Average GMAT Score | 732 with a range of 600 to 780 |
Average GRE Quant Score | 162 with a range of 143 to 170 |
Average GRE Verbal Score | 162 with a range of 146 to 170 |
Average GPA | 3.6 on a scale of 4.0 |
Columbia University Business & Management StudiesPopular Courses
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Columbia University Business & Management StudiesPopular Programs
Columbia Business School Rankings 2026
According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings, CBS ranks at #10 in the USA, which is the parent institution of Columbia Business School. Columbia Business School is well-renowned for its curriculum, career and research opportunities, and New York as its location, which is crucial for MBA graduates as they can build professional connections with potential employers. CBS is ranked 8th in the world for its MBA programs in the 2025 QS Global MBA rankings, with an overall score of 96.9 out of 100, based on factors like placement rates, faculty, curriculum, etc. According to the FT rankings 2025, this B-school ranks #2 among the best business schools offering MBA programs.
Based on the rankings published by US World and News 2025, CBS ranks #9 out of the top 133 B-Schools in the world. Look at the QS World rankings -
|
Columbia Business School MS programs (2025) |
Rankings (2025) |
|---|---|
|
Masters in Marketing |
5 |
|
Master’s in Business Analytics |
6 |
|
Masters in Finance |
13 |
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
Columbia Business School is ranked #9 by the US News and World Report 2025 among the top 133 Business schools of the world. CBS MBA graduates are known for their calibre in understanding the Business and Management world and making innovations in it.
QS World ranking body has ranked CBS at #8 with a score of 96.9%. According to the rankings mentioned above, yes, Columbia Business School is considered one of the top B-Schools in the US and the world.
The CBS Placement rate for the MBA class 2024 stands at 89% (within three months of graduation) with the average median salary of USD 175,000 (INR 1.60 Cr.).
The Columbia Business School ranks #8, and The Wharton School ranks at #2 according to the rankings released by the QS World ranking body for the year 2025. If the point to consider is employability, according to the Employment report 2023 published by Wharton, 97.2% of the students who were seeking employment received an offer letter within three months, while it stands at 84% for Columbia Business School.
The table compares these two best Business schools in depth:
Criteria | Columbia Business School | Wharton School |
|---|---|---|
Location | New York | Philadelphia, USA |
Average Starting Salary | USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr) | USD 175,000 (1.47 Cr) |
Sign-On Bonus | USD 30,000 (INR 25 L) | USD 30,000 (INR 25 L) |
Acceptance Rate (Class 2026) | 8.07% | 11.8% |
First-Year Tuition (MBA) | USD 88,300 (INR 74.6 L) | USD 84,830 (INR 71.6 L) |
Return on Investment (ROI) Based on the Data of first year tuition fee and the average median salary | 198.8% | 206.2% |
Top Companies Hiring | · McKinsey & Company · Boston Consulting Group · Bain & Company · Amazon · Morgan Stanley · Deloitte · PwC Strategy& · JPMorgan Chase & | · Ab Bernstein · Activision Blizzard · Adobe Inc. · Alixpartners · Alpine Investors
|
Ranking (QS World 2025) | #8 | #2 |
Average GPA | 3.5 | 3.6 |
Average GMAT Score (MBA Class 2026) | 732 | 732 |
Average GRE Quant Score (Class 2026) | 162 | 163 |
Average GRE Verbal Score (Class 2026) | 162 | 162 |
Placement Rate (2023) within three months of commencement | 84% | 97.2% |
Columbia Business School stays a popular choice among students to pursue an MBA degree from. The students worldwide apply to the CBS Business and Management programs. CBS received 7,847 applications for the class of 2024, out of which 972 applicants were rolled out an offer letter which makes an acceptance rate of 8.07%, which means the out of every 100 applicants, only 8 to 9 were given an offer letter. The low acceptance rate suggests that CBS is a tough school to get into but not impossible
Columbia Business School Admissions Dates 2025
Admissions at Columbia Business School are done on the basis of semesters, and those semesters for the various courses are Fall, Spring, and Summer.
| Program | Entry Term | Round | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time MBA | Fall 2026 (Aug) | Round 1 | September 3, 2025 |
| Full-Time MBA | Fall 2026 (Aug) | Round 2 | January 6, 2026 |
| Full-Time MBA | Fall 2026 (Aug) | Round 3 | March 26, 2026 |
| Accelerated MBA (J-Term) | Jan-26 | Round 2 | August 13, 2025 |
| EMBA-NY Fri/Sat | Fall 2025 (Aug) | Round 2 | April 15, 2026 |
| EMBA-Global | Spring 2026 (May) | Round 3 | March 20, 2026 |
There are three types of courses for EMBA, based on the availability of the candidate. All of these courses have different deadlines that are mentioned below:
|
Columbia Business School Executive EMBA Rounds |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|
|
EMBA-NY Saturday Round 1 (May Entry 2026) |
Nov, 2025 (Tentative) |
|
EMBA-NY Saturday Round 2 (May Entry) |
Jan 15, 2026 |
|
EMBA-Global (May Entry) Round 2 |
Jan 14, 2026 |
|
EMBA-Global (May Entry) Round 3 |
Mar 20, 2026 |
|
EMBA-NY Fri/Sat (August Entry) Round 1 |
Feb 12, 2026 |
|
EMBA-NY Fri/Sat (August Entry) Round 2 |
April 15, 2026 |
Columbia Business School UG Management Programs Application deadlines 2025:
|
CBS Masters in Science Program Stages (Fall Entry) |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Applications Opened |
Sept 12, 2025 |
|
Application Deadline |
Jan 16, 2026 |
|
Decisions to be Rendered |
Mar, 2026 |
Columbia Business School Admissions 2026
The Columbia Business School MBA acceptance rate for the class that entered in 2024 was 8.07% which makes it a very difficult university to get into.
However, a student can get admission to this B-School by fulfilling the following requirements:
Columbia Business School MBA Requirements as an International Student:
- A four-year Bachelor’s Degree from an Accredited university
- Scanned copies of all the Academic Records
- English proficiency test scores (IELTS/TOEFL, PTE/Duolingo English Test)
- An online application
- Letters of recommendation (Submit at least 2, with one being from a current supervisor or manager)
- Work experience of a minimum of 2 years (Preferred)
- Essay
- Standardized entrance test scores (GMAT/GRE)
Columbia Business School MS admissions requirements as an International student:
- Official transcripts
- English proficiency test scores (IELTS/TOEFL) (If applicable)
- An online application
- Letters of recommendation (At least 2, from superiors who can assess the qualitative skills of the candidate)
- Standardized tests (GMAT/GRE)
- Statement of purpose
- Certification of finances
- Essay
- Resume/CV
Columbia Business School Admission Process 2025:
Step 1-Choose a program
Step 2- Fill out the application form via the official portal of the university.
Step 3-Pay application fee: Students must pay USD 250 (INR 23K) for the MBA and EMBA programs.
Step 4-Wait for a response:
Step 5-Pay tuition fees: To get enrolled in the first semester, international students have to pay a non-refundable security fee, which differs depending on the program. For a full-time MBA, a student has to pay
- January (Round 1 and Round 2): Deposit 1 is USD 2,000(INR 1.68 L) and Deposit 2 is USD 1,000 (INR 84 K)
- August Round 1: Deposit 1 is USD 6,000 (INR 5.06 L) and Deposit 2 is USD 1,000 (INR (INR 84 K)
- August Round 3: Deposit 2 is USD 3,000 (INR 2.53 L)
EMBA: Round 1 admits must submit a USD 6,000 (INR 5.06 L) deposit within two weeks of admission
(USD 1 = INR 88.63)
Commonly asked questions On Admission Requirements
As a part of Columbia MBA application process, a student is required to take a standardized entrance test which can be either GMAT or GRE. Look at the table below for the average scores achieved by the CBS MBA class 2025:
Average Scores CBS MBA Profile(Class 2026) | Scores |
|---|---|
Average GMAT Score | 732 with a range of 600 to 780 |
Average GRE Quant Score | 162 with a range of 143 to 170 |
Average GRE Verbal Score | 162 with a range of 146 to 170 |
The international students are called for an interview after their application is shortlisted. Look at the tips given below to crack the CBS MBA interview -
· Columbia alum or student conducts the interview, without access to the application (only an applicant's resume if shared).
· Expect behavioural questions and discussions about your background, goals, and interest in Columbia.
· Practice mock interviews aloud using prepared stories and resume basics.
· Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer at the end.
Columbia Business School Placements 2026
The recent employment report by Columbia Business School was released for the year 2024, where its MBA graduates were given placement in companies like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Amazon, etc. Out of all the CMS MBA graduates, 89% reported placement within three months of completing their graduation, and 92% reported placement within a year. CBS MBA graduates’ placement rate went up in comparison to the year 2023, as 84% of the graduates reported getting placed within three months of completing their graduation in the year 2024.. Thirty-seven percent of the students were able to find placement opportunities on their own.
Here are the highlights of placements of the Columbia Business School MBA graduates class of 2024 -
|
Columbia Business School MBA Class Particulars (2024) |
Data (2024) |
|---|---|
|
Average Median Base Salary |
USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr) |
|
Average Sign-on bonus |
USD 30,000 (INR 32 L) |
|
Top Employers |
· McKinsey & Company · Boston Consulting Group · Bain & Company · Amazon · Morgan Stanley |
|
Average GMAT Score |
729 |
|
GMAT Range |
700-760 |
|
Average Work Experience (Class 2024) |
5 Years |
Here is the table showing the top Industries where Columbia Business School MBA graduates were hired:
|
Columbia Business School MBA Graduates’ Top Industries (Class 2024) |
Percentage of MBA graduates |
Average Median Salary of CBS MBA graduate (2024) |
|---|---|---|
|
Consulting |
30.6% |
USD 188,000 (INR 1.62 Cr) |
|
Consumer Products |
5.2% |
USD 127,000 (INR 1.09 Cr) |
|
Education?/?Government?/?Nonprofit |
1.3% |
USD 90,000 (INR 77.9 L) |
|
Financial Services |
35.9% |
USD 165,000 (INR 1.42 Cr) |
|
Fintech |
2.0% |
USD 175,000 (INR 1.51 Cr) |
|
Healthcare |
3.8% |
USD 137,500 (INR 1.19 Cr) |
|
Manufacturing |
2.4% |
USD 140,000 (INR 1.21Cr) |
| Media, Entertainment & Sports |
3.1% |
USD 140,000 (INR 1.21Cr) |
| Real Estate |
2.5% |
USD 150,000 (INR 1.29 Cr) |
| Technology |
10.0% |
USD 160,025 (INR 1.38 Cr) |
| Other |
3.1% |
USD 140,000 (INR 1.21 Cr) |
(USD 1 = INR 86.81)
Commonly asked questions On Placements
The average median salary for a Columbia Business School MBA graduate can be USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr) in industries like Consulting, Finance, Technology, Real estate, etc.
Look at the highlights of placements of the Columbia Business School MBA graduates class of 2025 which are given below -
Columbia Business School MBA Class Particulars (2024) | Data |
|---|---|
Average Median Base Salary | USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr) |
Average Sign-on bonus | USD 30,000 (INR 32 L) |
Top Employers | · McKinsey & Company · Boston Consulting Group · Bain & Company · Amazon · Morgan Stanley · Deloitte · PwC Strategy& · JPMorgan Chase & Co. · AlixPartners |
(USD 1 = INR 88.63)
The Columbia Business School placement rate 2024 stands at 89% within the three months of graduation from this B-School, and this rate increased by the year-end, with 92% of the students reporting placement.
The table below shows the top companies hiring the MBA graduates from Columbia Business School:
Top Companies Hiring Columbia Business School MBA Graduates |
|---|
· McKinsey & Company |
· Boston Consulting Group |
· Bain & Company |
· Amazon |
· Morgan Stanley |
· Deloitte |
· PwC Strategy& |
· JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
· AlixPartners |
According to the employment report (2024) published by CBS, the the highest package after doing an MBA from Columbia Business School was offered in Consulting industry, which was a whopping average median salary of USD 190,000 (INR 1.60 Cr), followed by Healthcare industry which had an average median salary of USD 170,000 (INR 1.43 Cr).
Here is the table showing the top Industries where Columbia Business School MBA graduates were hired:
Columbia Business School MBA Graduates' Top Industries (Class 2023) | Average Median Salary of a CBS MBA graduate |
|---|---|
Consulting | USD 190,000 (INR 1.60 Cr) |
Technology | Not given |
Financial Services | USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr) |
Real Estate | USD 145,000 (INR 1.22 Cr) |
Entertainment & Media | USD 130,000 (INR 1.09 Cr) |
Consumer Products | USD 120,000 (INR 1.01 Cr) |
Health Care | USD 170,000 (INR 1.43 Cr) |
(USD 1 = INR 86.81)
Columbia Business School Campus Life
Located in the heart of New York City, Columbia Business School takes pride in its location, as this location allows CBS students to attend networking events, hop on a subway and meet their dream companies, collaborate on projects at Silicon Alley, and home to a lot of internships.
The B-school offers its students to collaborate and engage with its Diversity Inclusion initiative. The campus is very student-friendly as it offers numerous opportunities for them to hone their leadership skills. There are 80 student-led clubs present at Columbus, ranging from professional to cultural to recreational, allowing the students the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and lead.
The campus has three Buildings, with Manhattanville-Kravis Hall and Manhattanville Geffen Hall, which encompass an area of 492,000 square feet, which is almost double that of Uris Hall, the oldest building of the B-school. The area is well-connected to public parks, retail amenities, Indian restaurants, and resources to help small businesses in the neighborhood.
Student life is a balanced mix of academic excellence and co-curricular activities. For gym enthusiasts, Dodge Fitness Centre is available to all CBS students at no additional cost.
To take care of international students, the B-School has a dedicated International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).
Commonly asked questions On Campus Life
First year students at Columbia Business School are required to live on campus unless there is an approval from Residential Life to commute. The students are also prohibited form living in fraternity and sorority houses.
Columbia Business School gives an utmost priority to students' wellbeing and health on campus. There is a dedicated students' health department at CBS. The fitness enthusiasts can avail the services of the Dodge Fitness Centre which is available to the CBS students at no extra cost.
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Columbia University Business & Management StudiesStudents Ratings & Reviews
- 67% students never faced discrimination in this university
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Student Forum
Answered 13 hours ago
LLB from Chandigarh University is an amazing option. The environment and faculty are also best. The department has modern classrooms, a special law library, a big auditorium, and two moot courts for real practice. One of the most unique things about the department is the Pro Bono Club, which is supp
M
Beginner-Level 3
Answered a week ago
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.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
The GRE is optional for doing an MS at Columbia University, but international students are required to meet certain admission requirements.
You should have a UG degree with English language requirements like IELTS or TOEFL.
V
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
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.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
STEM, Business, Law and Medicine are the standout options. An idea of the best courses at Columbia Uni can also be taken from the rankings given by Shiksha to its courses, on a national level:
| Course | Rank in the US |
|---|---|
| MArch | #4 |
| MIM | #5 |
| MBA or PGDM | #5 |
| LLM | #6 |
| MA | #6 |
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