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Columbia University Admissions 2026: Requirements, Application Deadlines & Fees

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Columbia University Admissions
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International undergraduate students can take Columbia University admission in Early or Regular decision. The Early decision application deadline is closed, where, Regular decision application deadline is in early Jan 2026. Graduate programs priority deadlines and regular deadlines in Jan 2026, and Feb 2026. Additionally, students can check Columbia University application deadlines along with financial aid and enrollment deferrals below:

First year applicants/ Undergraduate Deadlines:

  • Early Decision: closed
  • Response Deadline (if admitted): Early January 2026
  • Regular Decision: Jan 1, 2026

Financial Aid Application Deadline: Feb 15, 2026

Admissions/Financial Aid Decision Release: Late Mar 2026

Postgraduate Deadline:

Master's Programs:

  • Priority deadline: Jan 15, 2026
  • Regular deadline: Feb 15, 2026 
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Columbia University Admissions
Table of contents
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Columbia University Admissions 2026

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Columbia University Admission Dates 2026

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Columbia University Admission Requirements 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   What time is the Columbia University application deadline?
A: 

Columbia University offers applications to international undergraduate and graduate applicants at the start and end of the year. Undergraduate applicants can take Early or Regular admission, whereas postgraduate students' application deadlines vary based on the college and specialization. The UG and PG application deadline for international students are given below:

Particulars

Deadline

Early Decision UG

Nov 1, 2025

Regular Decision UG

Jan 1, 2026

Columbia Engineering PG

Jan 15, 2026

Computer Science PG

Feb 15, 2026

Columbia School of Professional Studies (Early)

Oct 15, 2025

Columbia University MS Admissions 2026

76 courses 9 months - 24 years
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icon
₹ 29.2L - 93.7L

iconEligibility Criteria

  • Accepting Exams: TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, GRE, IELTS, GMAT
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Commonly asked questions
On MS Admissions
Q:   What does Columbia University look for in students?
A: 

The university seeks students who can take advantage of Columbia's experience and will return something meaningful to the community. They prefer students whose interests, skills, goals, and values align closely with them. Columbia University looks at various academic and non-academic factors in international or domestic students. Some crucial factors along with their level of importance are discussed below:

Academic/Non-Academic Factors

Level of Importance

Rigor of secondary school records

Very Important

Class rank

Important

Academic GPA

Very Important

Application Essay

Very Important

Extracurricular activity

Important

Character/Personal quality

Very Important

View course details

How to get into Columbia University?

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Commonly asked questions
On Application Process
Q:   How much is a 1-year tuition at Columbia University in Indian rupees?
A: 

The Columbia University tuition fees for international students is based on the programs and the year. The tuition fees is quite high for Indians, and lie between INR 51L and INR 59 L for UG and INR 20L and INR 1.23 Cr for PG. Students can check the table below for the tuition cost of popular programs:

Courses

1st Year Tuition Fees

BBA (7 courses)

INR 58 L - 59 L

B.E. / B.Tech (14 courses)

INR 52 L - 59 L

B.A. (55 courses)

INR 58 L - 59 L

M.A. (140 courses)

INR 20 L - 75 L

MS (74 courses)

INR 28 L - 1 Cr

MBA/PGDM (19 courses)

INR 45 L - 80 L

Others PG (28 courses)

INR 28 L - 1 Cr

B.Sc. (20 courses)

INR 58 L - 59 L

MBA/PGDM6 (6 courses)

INR 52 L - 84 L

Columbia University Enrollment Statistics 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Admission
Q:   How long does it take to hear back from Columbia University?
A: 

Columbia University usually replies in 6 to 8 weeks, once applied for undergraduate or graduate studies. Students must make sure they fulfill the basic eligibility requirements and submit all the required documents before paying application deadline, and apply. The school of General Studies provide their decision in Mar of Fall intake and Oct of Spring intake. 

Columbia University
Students Ratings & Reviews

3.8/5
Verified Icon2 Verified ReviewsInfo Icon
Student Views (Based on Reviews)
  • 67% students never faced discrimination in this university
Vibe of Campus
Academically oriented
Multi-dimensional
Friendly
Liberal
Internships3.5
Part time work3.5
Post study jobs4
Quality of faculty5
Student Life3.5
Value for money2.5
Public transportation5
Safety4
Indian Food3.5
Permanent Immigration3.5
N
Nithishma Allu Verified Icon
MS in Computer Science - Batch of 2024
4.6
Columbia University: Fostering Brilliance and Innovation
Tips: Networking is the key. Make as many connections as possible. New York is an amazing place to be and make the most of it. There is a Shardarshish scholarship which waves 50% tuition fees and also numerous graduate research assistant roles available if interested.
Likes (Quality of faculty): The diversity of faculty is amazing with most of them graduating from the top universities. Their knowledge on the subject is remarkable and they challenge you to be better and work harder. They let you engage in projects and conduct many office hours for discussions
Dislikes (Internships): The coursework and the brand value added because of Columbia University is great which lands you in a good internship but there are comparatively fewer career fairs than other universities. The career advisors are super helpful in guiding and suggesting changes to resumes and cover letters.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1500
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 150000
Reviewed on 11 Feb 2024Read more
Thumbs Up Icon(1) Thumbs Down Icon1 person found this helpful
A
Anonymous
MS in Data Science - Batch of 2026
3.6
Columbia is an expensive school, and the competition is very fierce.
Tips: Be mentally prepared before coming, the scholarships are rare, you need to be best at what you do. The competition is fierce, and things are not so dreamy anymore in the USA. But if you are good at it, you can make it. I am satisfied, hopefully I will get a job, and it will be easier for me.
Likes (Quality of faculty): Mostly, the faculty are adjunct faculty, giving a more practical experience. The faculty is diverse and well-rounded, and the way things are done here is different from in India. They are more concerned with practicality than with theoretical knowledge, so you need to study and prepare on your own.
Dislikes (Value for money): Columbia is an expensive school, and the competition is very fierce. Off-campus jobs don't pay well compared to the living costs. There are better private schools that offer scholarships you can attend. Brand value still matters in today's world, though.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2300
Prepping time for classes27 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 87000
Reviewed on 1 May 2025Read more
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A
AnonymousVerified Icon
Computer Science Master's Degree - Vision, Graphics, Interaction and Robotics - Batch of 2026
3
Ivy League Tag does not work anymore.
Tips: No overwhelming cultural shift that I have experienced as of now. I didn't get any scholarship, they pay you nothing, no on campus jobs and even if you get any, you'll be paid peanuts. You basically take a crore rupees loan, study and work like a machine and still end up with no internship call, no certainty about jobs.
Likes (Quality of faculty): Excellent faculty, coursework, teaching and most importantly research. But don't expect to get paid for your research. They won't pay you. They'll ask you to take it for credit. All professors are great researchers and top in their domain but not all are good teachers.
Dislikes (Value for money): It's very expensive with zero or very few on campus jobs paying you peanuts. No proper career fair for internships. Uncertainty of jobs, constantly changing government regulations, disregarding all the effort and money we put to study here. Disregard for your skill and knowledge.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2125
Prepping time for classes50 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 80575
Reviewed on 28 Sep 2025Read more
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Columbia University Admission FAQs

Q:   Does Columbia University give athletic scholarships?
A: 

Yes, Columbia University is known to offer athletic scholarships for a number of sports including American Football.

The scholarships are given on the basis of need & overall performance of a student & are available for NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA & NJCAA.

As per data curated from unofficial sources, 34% athletes at the university are awarded scholarships.

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Columbia University

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Is LL.B from CU a good option? How is the environment or faculty of law in CU?

Answered 2 weeks 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

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M

Manpreet Kaur

Beginner-Level 3

Which is harder to get into Columbia or NYU?

Answered a week ago

Columbia accepts around 4 applications for every 100 it receives. Its acceptance rate was 4.29% for the Class of 2029. NYU accepts twice the number of applications, at an 8% acceptance rate. You would have to work hard to get into either. However, at NYU you have a better chance.

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

How does JEE Main score influence the admission process for specialised CSEbranches like Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Data Science at CU

Answered a week ago

Hi.

1. Admission is primarily through CUCET

Chandigarh University (CU) uses CUCET, its own entrance test, as the primary criterion for seat allotment in all B.Tech/B.E programs — including specialised CSE branches.

Whether you want CSE – Cyber Security, CSE – Cloud Computing, or CSE – Data Science, you

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

What is the minimum JEE Main rank or percentile required to get admission in B.Tech/B.E. Computer Science Engineering at CU?

Answered a week ago

Hi.

There is no fixed “minimum JEE Main percentile/rank” that guarantees admission to Chandigarh University (CU)'s B.Tech/B.E. in Computer Science Engineering (CSE), because admission depends on seat demand, number of applicants, branch popularity, and round of counselling. But we can estimate a roug

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

How important is the JEE Main percentile when applying for growth-oriented branches like ECE, Electrical, or Mechatronics at CU?

Answered a week ago

Hi.

JEE Main Percentile Consideration

Primary Admission Criteria: For many engineering colleges in India, including CU, the JEE Main percentile is often considered as a key parameter for shortlisting candidates for admission to various branches, especially the popular and competitive ones like ECE, El

...Read more

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heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

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Akansha katariya

Study Abroad Expert

Akansha katariya is a content creator at shiksha.com, creating content for study abroad. Having pursued B tech. in Electronics and communication from RGPV University, she has been creating content across diverse domains. When not guiding students, sh...Read Full Bio
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