Columbia University

The MPA & MIA degrees are very similar in terms of the area of study they focus on. The MPA program is more aligned with the rigorous quantitative & data-driven aspects of public policy while MIA takes a more qualitative approach to international issues & diplomacy harnessing language skills & expertise.

The SIPA recommends the GRE or GMAT, but it is not a mandatory requirement. GRE/GMAT score is a complementary requirement that students can opt to pursue in case they feel they do not have a strong list of quantitative courses/ work experience as the exam scores strengthen the application.

A score above 320 can significantly improve the chances of admission.

Students interested in pursuing higher studies from the institute must follow the steps below to secure their seat at Columbia SIPA:

• Choose the desired programme from the official university portal
• Check the admission requirements
• Submit all mandatory documentation as part of respective application
• Wait for the university's response
• Check the application status regularly
• Accept the offer letter
• Commence your studies in New York

Yes, Columbia University of which SIPA is a part is among the 8 member institutions of the Ivy League.

The Ivy league institutions are considered the best institutions in the US, & are known as the pinnacle of quality education & academic excellence.

Listed below are the 8 institutions that form part of the Ivy League:

• Harvard University
• Columbia University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University
• Princeton University
• Cornell University
• Brown University
• Dartmouth College

Columbia SIPA is part of the best institutions globally for several parameters, as per the latest Shiksha popularity rankings, the institute is given an overall country-level rank of #10. Another prominent unofficial source ranks it #15 for public policy studies.

Columbia SIPA is one of the most illustrious & prestigious institutions in the US for studies related to public policy.

The institute is ranked highly by several prominent publications. A prominent unofficial source ranks it #1 for International Global Policy & Administration studies, while it is ranked #5 for Humanities & Social Studies programme by Shiksha.  

The Columbia SIPA acceptance rates stands at around 4%, that is very low as compared to some other US based institutions. The reason is the university's prestige & resources. It boasts the best in-class resources that are at the disposal of professionals working at the best organizations in the world. Not every institution provides the standard of education that Columbia does in terms of campus environment, resources, faculty, alumni & placement network, etc.

New York is an expensive place to live & study for international students especially Indian students. Students must plan well financially before packing their bags for study at New York.

The estimated annual cost of living in NYC is around USD 29,205 (INR 25 L), this includes a range of costs associated with living such as rent, food, utilities, personal expenses, etc.

Note that this is only an estimated figure, actual cost of living may vary based on the quality of lifestyle students opt to pursue.

Columbia SIPA offers a 21-month long Master of Public Administration (MPA) programme to its domestic & international students. The tuition cost of the programme is around USD 71,368 (INR 61.1 L). 

Students must also plan to incur some other additional costs over the duration of stay in New York City such as accommodation costs, food, utilities, travel costs, personal expenses, etc.

International students need a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for admission to the institute's courses.

Apart from GPA, the students must also fulfil the other admission requirements of the institute including securing minimum language proficiency test scores & submission of relevant documentation for identity verification.