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MBA Courses at Columbia University
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Last updated on 22 Feb '26Columbia 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: Mar 26, 2026
Check out: Best MBA colleges in the USA.
Columbia University MBA/PGDM Highlights 2026
There are MBA/PGDM course offered at Columbia University for a duration of 2 years that are available for Indian students. This program is extremely beneficial for students who wish to excel in leadership qualities, with excellent academic and professional opportunities and extracurricular merit. The first-year tuition fees that must be paid for Columbia University MBA/PGDM is USD 91,172. Along with the first-year tuition fees, international students plan to cover other expenses as well like housing, food, transportation and more.
Columbia University MBA/PGDM Admission Requirements and Eligibility
The basic criteria that international students need to fulfill for Columbia University admission to MBA/PGDM courses is submitting the scores of exams accepted and documents required for the admission process. The exams accepted are
The documents required for submission include
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
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
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 |
According to the FT rankings published recently in 2025, Columbia Business School ranks #2 among the best b-schools offering an MBA program. 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. Based on the rankings published by US World and News 2024, CBS ranks #12 out of the best 124 B-Schools in the world.
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
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
Given below are the requirements you have to meet.
- 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 47.56 L - 83.94 L | #15 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 42.32 L - 79.23 L | #4 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 37.25 L - 85.78 L | #31 THE, 2026 | |
| INR 26.21 L - 1.05 Cr | #6 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 39.64 L - 79.96 L | #7 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 18.77 L - 1.17 Cr | #12 US News, 2026 |
Compare
Columbia University MBA Admission Dates
The MBA application at Columbia University are conducted in three rounds. The uni is currently taking admissions for 2026 intake and deadlines for Round 1 and Round 2 are closed. However, Indian students can now apply for Round 3. Here are the MBA deadlines for Columbia University for 2026 intake:
|
Round |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|
|
Round 1 |
Closed |
|
Round 2 |
Closed |
|
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
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.
It is important for international students to manage their Columbia MBA costs and other expenses before applying. Students can check below the student’s budget for 2022-2023 at Columbia for MBA program:
Item | Cost |
|---|---|
Tuition | $80,472 |
Mandatory Fees | $4,103 |
Health Services & Insurance | $5,497 |
Books & Supplies | $320 |
Room & Board | $24,822 |
Personal Expenses | $6,246 |
Computer Purchase | $1,000 |
Total First Year Budget | $122,460 |
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 |
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 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 FAQs
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. Applicants must have a good portfolio and perform well in academics to get into the university.
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.
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.
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 University
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
The placement status of Lovely Professional University (LPU) is really good, and a total of over 2,225 recruiters participated in 2025 drives, including companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Cognizant, Capgemini, TCS, and IBM. The highest package offered to select few students was ₹2.5 crore, wh
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
The highest salary earned by graduates of the Columbia Uni USA is USD 450,000 (INR 4.1 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 1.34 Cr) for t
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, Columbia University offers 9 months-1 year MA programme to international students. Some popular programs are International Affair, Film and Media Studies, Political Science, Psychology in Education, and more. The tuition fees is between INR 21L and INR 69L.
J
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 weeks ago
In the QS rankings for 2026, the University of British Columbia ranking is #40. For the MBA rankings, UBC ranking is #111-120 in 2026. In the Masters in Business Analytics rankings by QS subject rankings, UBC ranks at #32 in 2026.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
In Times Higher Education ranking, UBC ranking is #45 in 2026. A few of the subject rankings in THE rankings are #52 for Arts and Humanities, #36 for Business and Economics, #31 for Medical and Health, #46 for Engineering in 2026. In the QS rankings, UBC is ranked at #40 in 2026.
G
Contributor-Level 10
About the author
Columbia University
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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
New York
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