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MBA Courses at Columbia University
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Last updated on 10 Nov '25Columbia University MBA/PGDMWhat's new?
International students can take Columbia University MBA admission in the various rounds. The Columbia University MBA application deadline for international students is given below:
- Round 1: Closed
- Round 2: Closed
- Round 3: Apr 1, 2025
Check out: Best MBA colleges in the USA.
Columbia University MBA 2025 Highlights
Columbia University offers 12 months-36-month MBA programs to their students. Columbia University MBA program has a comprehensive curriculum. 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.
Columbia University has full-time professors and industry practitioners for its students. This also ensures a well-rounded education for them as well. The University divided its curriculum into Two terms; the program's first term includes courses such as Financial Accounting, Managerial Statistics, and strategy formulation. In the second term, students dive more into operations Management while also selecting elective classes to customize their learning experience. Columbia MBA program offers a structured and great adaptable education for its students
The program is available in diverse specializations including Marketing Science; Business and Economics; Financial Engineering; Business Analytics; Management Science and Engineering; Technology Management; Real Estate Development; Financial Economics; and more.
Students must fulfill the basic eligibility by having a bachelor’s degree from a recognized organization or equivalent, and submit the required documents including university/ college transcripts, letter of recommendation, resume, English language requirements, and more.
Also Read: MBA in the USA
Columbia University MBA Tuition Fees
Columbia University MBA tuition costs range between INR 44L and INR 78L. The students must invest over INR 60L in popular programs including Business and Economics, Marketing Science, and Technology Management. Students can check the below table for Columbia University MBA tuition for popular programs:
|
Popular Programs |
Tuition Cost |
|---|---|
|
Marketing Science |
INR 65L |
|
Business and Economics |
INR 60L |
|
Financial Engineering |
INR 78.39L |
|
Business Analytics |
INR 78.39L |
|
Management Science and Engineering |
INR 45.95L |
|
Technology Management |
INR 71.17L |
Columbia University MBA Acceptance Rate
The Columbia University acceptance rate is 22% for international students. For the class of 2024, the Columbia Business School received 7,487 applications out of which 972 were admitted. International students require a good GPA and academic profile to get into the university. Applicants must check their admission documents thoroughly to get selected. The admission process at Columbia takes a holistic approach, considering multiple factors in the student's profile. Some factors are Leadership, Work experience, essays, LOR, and interviews that the students give during their admission process.
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
Yes, Columbia Business School provides scholarships. In fact, the CBS is well renowned for the having one of the largest scholarship funds. There is no need to apply for the scholarships separately, it is integrated in the CBS application process. Below mentioned are the scholarships provided to MBA students:
Scholarship Type | Criteria | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
Merit-Based Scholarships | Academic achievements, professional accomplishments, leadership potential | Tuition Coverage of 20% to 100% |
Need-Based Scholarships | Demonstrated financial need | Comprehensive financial support: tuition, fees, living expenses |
Diversity Scholarships | Support for underrepresented minorities, women, LGBTQ+, veterans | Enhance diversity in student body |
International Scholarships | Outstanding candidates from outside the US | Partial to full tuition, visa fees, relocation costs |
Columbia MBA graduates are paid very well for their contributions, with the average salary figure for Class of 2024 MBA graduates standing at USD 175,000 (INR 1.5 Cr), per data curated from official sources.
12.3% of the MBA graduates were also on the receiving end of additional guaranteed compensation worth USD 225,000 (INR 1.93 Cr).
Conversion rate: 1 USD = INR 86.06
Columbia Business School offers programs across diverse areas such as MBA, MBA Dual degree, EMBA, MS, Undergraduate etc. Unlike most B-Schools in the US, Columbia offers an accelerated MBA which can be completed in 16 months.
The entire students experience stays the same; the curriculum, the faculty, and same highly selective standards. The only difference is that these accelerated MBA students can only join in January (Spring), and these students don't have to do a Summer Internship, while the August entry students have to engage in Summer internships. This accelerated MBA is for those who do not wish to change their industry, entrepreneurs, and the students in family businesses.
Columbia University MBA/PGDMPopular courses
1
Columbia University MBA/PGDMFees details 2026
| Fee components | Amount (for 2 years) |
|---|---|
INR 80.23 L | |
INR 15.55 L | |
INR 4.36 L | |
INR 1.16 L | |
INR 9.27 L | |
INR 1.11 Cr |
These are estimated fees information. Actual values may differ.
Columbia University MBA Application Process
International students must adhere to the following Columbia University admission process to get into MBA programs:
- The Application Process can be made through the Columbia portal. (academics.business.columbia.edu/admissions/mba)
- Check the requirements thoroughly and see if current qualifications are fulfilled.
- Students must meet the entry requirements checklist before applying:
- Transcripts of your degree.
- A minimum score of 7.5 and above in IELTS
- SOP
- LOR (letter of recommendation)
- Creative Portfolio (Audition depending on the chosen course)
- Resume/ CV
- An Application fee of USD 250 (INR 20,000)
- Entrance exam (GRE or GMAT, LSAT, MCAT)
- Students must make sure their English requirements meet the standards of the university.
- Students can submit their application after their requirements are ready.
- The application fee might vary depending on the programs and courses the applicant chooses. However, for MBA the application fee is USD 250. If the applicant can’t afford the application fee, they can waive the application fee.
- After applying, applicants can check their status by logging in with their credentials through the Columbia portal.
Columbia University MBA Selection Criteria
To increase their chances of being chosen, international students must meet the fundamental selection requirements. Academic profile, application essay, and professional achievements are a few factors of the criteria. To be admitted to Columbia, students must fulfill a minimum of one to two requirements. The following are the fundamental requirements for admission to Columbia University's MBA program:
- Students must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Students must have an attractive academic profile
- According to Columbia Business School, all of the work students submit for admission, including essays, must be entirely original and correct.
- Candidates shouldn't be involved in writing the recommendation letter or letters
Columbia University MBA/PGDM
Compare MBA/PGDM at Columbia University with other similar colleges
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| INR 46.76 L - 82.54 L | #15 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 41.59 L - 75.28 L | #4 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 25.77 L - 1.03 Cr | #6 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 36.6 L - 84.28 L | #31 THE, 2026 | |
| INR 38.67 L - 75.22 L | #7 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 18.46 L - 1.15 Cr | #12 US News, 2026 |
Compare
Columbia University MBA Admission Dates
The MBA application at Columbia University are conducted in three rounds. The university is currently taking admissions for 2026 intake and deadlines for Round 1 are closed. However, Indian students can now apply for Round 2 and 3. Here are the MBA deadlines for Columbia University for 2026 intake:
|
Round |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|
|
Round 1 |
Closed |
|
Round 2 |
Jan 6, 2026 |
|
Round 3 |
Mar 26, 2026 |
Columbia University MBA Selection Criteria
To increase their chances of selection, international students must meet the eligibility requirements. Academic profile, application essay, and professional achievements are some factors of the criteria. To get Columbia admission, students must fulfill a minimum of one to two requirements.
The following are the fundamental requirements for admission to Columbia University's MBA program:
Students must have a bachelors degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
Students must have an attractive academic profile. According to Columbia Business School, all of the work students submit for admission, including essays, must be entirely original and correct.
Candidates should not be involved in writing the recommendation letter or letters.
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
As an international student, Columbia MBA can cost around USD 132,258 (INR 1.11 Cr) per year out of which the CBS MBA tuition is USD 88,300 (INR 74.6 L). Please note that the tuition fee increases by 2 to 7% in the second year. Look at the table belowf for the full fee breakdown -
CBS MBA First Year Fee Components (2024-25) | Amount |
|---|---|
Tuition | USD 88,300 (INR 74.6 L) |
Mandatory Fees | USD 5,857 (INR 4.94 L) |
Health Insurance | USD 4,955 (INR 4.18 L) |
Books & Supplies | USD 1,250 (INR 1.05 L) |
Food & Housing | USD 27,396 (INR 23.1 L) |
Personal Expenses | USD 3,177 (INR 2.68 L) |
Transportation | USD 1,323 (INR 1.11 L) |
First Year Total Budget | USD 132,258 (INR 1.11 Cr) |
(USD 1 = INR 84.45)
Columbia University Ranking
Columbia University ranks well for its Global MBA. It ranks at 8 position in the QS 2025. In previous years, Columbia University has been ranked among the top universities in the world for MBA. As per the QS, Columbia University also ranks 11 in 2024 for its Accounting & Finance courses. According to THE PG in Business, the university is ranked 14 in 2023. Check out the below table:
|
Course Name (Ranking Category) |
Rank 2024 |
Rank 2023 |
|---|---|---|
|
MBA (Global MBA) |
8 |
9 |
|
global MBA [7] |
7 |
8 |
|
THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Business and Economics [8] |
- |
11 |
Columbia University MBA Cost of Living
The cost of attending Columbia University can vary depending on the accommodation status and individual spending. However, International students considering Columbia could be a little higher than compared to US citizen's check out the below expenses for MBA students at Columbia.
|
Fees components |
Amount |
|---|---|
|
Tuition & fees |
INR 70,08,098 |
Other expenses in 1st Year
|
Fees components |
Amount |
|---|---|
|
Insurance |
INR 3,76,631 |
|
Mandatory Fees |
INR 4,67,201 |
|
Books & Supplies |
INR 26,541 |
|
Personal Expenses |
INR 5,18,043 |
|
Computer Purchase |
INR 82,940 |
|
Total |
INR 14,71,356 |
Columbia University MBA/PGDMExplore Other Courses
Columbia University
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?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 |
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Not if you go by their overall university rankings. While both rank in and around the top 10 universities in the country, Harvard (#2) ranks well ahead of Columbia (#10), in national level rankings, given by Shiksha.
Though Harvard offers more course options, and overall brand recognition, Columbia
A
Contributor-Level 10
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Columbia UniversityLocation
| University City | New York, New York, USA |
| Size of city | Large |
| Population of City | 86,22,697 |
Columbia UniversityContact Information
116th and Broadway, New York, NY 10027, United States
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