Private nonprofit · University

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York · Large city

#1 most selective in New York#2 graduation rate in New York#5 for grad earnings in New York
4.0%
Admit rate
$21,590
Avg net price
96%
Graduation rate
$102,491
Median earnings

Columbia University in the City of New York is a private nonprofit bachelor's-granting institution in New York, New York (large city setting), enrolling 8,973 undergraduates.

Private nonprofitMidsize · 8,973 undergradsLarge cityHighly selective · 4% admitNCAA Division I-FCS · Ivy GroupCold wintersNear the coast

Will you get in?

See where your numbers land against Columbia University in the City of New York's admitted students.

Admit rate
4.0%
SAT (mid 50%)
1510–1580
Avg GPA (est.)
4.00

Enter a test score to see where you land against Columbia University in the City of New York's admitted students.

A guide, not a prediction. It compares your numbers with the middle 50% of admitted students and Columbia University in the City of New York's overall admit rate — it can't see essays, recommendations, activities, or your intended major, which all move real decisions.

About New York, New York

New York, often called New York City, is the most populous city in the United States. In the pre-Columbian era, the area of present-day New York City was inhabited by Algonquians, including Munsee-speaking Lenape. New York City is frequently the setting for novels, movies, and television programs and has been described as the cultural capital of the world. (Wikipedia)

Setting
Large city
Highest degree offered
Graduate
Nearest big city
7 miles to New York, NY
To the ocean
< 1 mile
Nearest airport
5 miles to LaGuardia (LGA) · major hub

How Columbia University in the City of New York compares

View 90 more ranking appearances
#7 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates #17 · Private Nonprofit Colleges with the Highest Former-Student Earnings #6 · Private Nonprofit Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates #15 · Private Nonprofit Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates #44 · Private Nonprofit Colleges with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #14 · Residential Colleges (Dorm Capacity for at Least 50% of Undergraduates) with the Highest Former-Student Earnings #6 · Residential Colleges (Dorm Capacity for at Least 50% of Undergraduates) with the Highest Graduation Rates #14 · Residential Colleges (Dorm Capacity for at Least 50% of Undergraduates) with the Highest Retention Rates #43 · Residential Colleges (Dorm Capacity for at Least 50% of Undergraduates) with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #14 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Highest Former-Student Earnings #4 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates #14 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates #52 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #23 · Colleges with the Highest First-Year Retention Rates #80 · Colleges with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #14 · Colleges with the Highest Six-Year Former-Student Earnings #43 · Colleges with the Highest Four-Year Graduation Rates #50 · Colleges with the Highest Pell Recipient Completion Rates #74 · Colleges with the Highest First-Generation Completion Rates #5 · Colleges with the Largest Average Institutional Grants #69 · Colleges with the Lowest Share of Federal Loan Borrowers #33 · Most Racially Diverse Colleges #4 · Colleges with the Highest Average SAT Scores #13 · Colleges with the Highest ACT Midpoint Scores #81 · Colleges Closest to Major Airports #16 · Colleges Offering the Most Varsity Sports #32 · Colleges with the Most Varsity Sports Participation Entries #24 · Cheapest Colleges for Families Earning $30,000–$48,000 #30 · Cheapest Colleges for Families Earning $48,000–$75,000 #61 · Cheapest Colleges for Families Earning $75,000–$110,000 #2 · Colleges with the Highest Former-Student Earnings in New York #53 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in New York #1 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates in New York #46 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in New York #3 · Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates in New York #13 · Best Colleges in the Northeast #5 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates in the Northeast #10 · Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates in the Northeast #87 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in the Northeast #22 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price in the Northeast #11 · Best Colleges on the East Coast #6 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates on the East Coast #13 · Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates on the East Coast #41 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price on the East Coast #7 · Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic #77 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in the Mid-Atlantic #3 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates in the Mid-Atlantic #4 · Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates in the Mid-Atlantic #61 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in the Mid-Atlantic #16 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price in the Mid-Atlantic #3 · Colleges with the Highest Former-Student Earnings Near New York, NY #52 · Bachelor's Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #73 · Bachelor's Biology, General Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #97 · Bachelor's Biology, General Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #20 · Bachelor's Computer Science Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #10 · Bachelor's Computer Science Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #96 · Bachelor's Computer Science Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #23 · Bachelor's Computer Science Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #8 · Bachelor's Political Science and Government Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #8 · Bachelor's Political Science and Government Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #47 · Bachelor's Political Science and Government Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #18 · Bachelor's Economics Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #16 · Bachelor's Economics Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #59 · Bachelor's Economics Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #25 · Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #25 · Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #24 · Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #1 · Bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #27 · Bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #85 · Bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #2 · Bachelor's Sociology Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #1 · Bachelor's Sociology Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #60 · Bachelor's Sociology Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #90 · Bachelor's English Language and Literature, General Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #7 · Bachelor's English Language and Literature, General Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #69 · Bachelor's English Language and Literature, General Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #6 · Bachelor's History Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #35 · Bachelor's History Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #62 · Bachelor's History Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #38 · Bachelor's Mathematics Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #2 · Bachelor's Research and Experimental Psychology Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #4 · Bachelor's Research and Experimental Psychology Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #40 · Bachelor's Research and Experimental Psychology Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #7 · Bachelor's Research and Experimental Psychology Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #68 · Bachelor's Music Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #32 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #30 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #4 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #4 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #25 · Bachelor's Civil Engineering Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings
Selectivity4.0%

More selective than 99% · #1 most selective of 137 in New York

SAT average1553

Higher than 99%

Graduation rate96%

Higher than 98% · #2 of 159 in New York

First-year retention98%

Higher than 96%

Earnings, 10 years after entry$102,491

Higher than 98% · #5 of 133 in New York

Average net price$21,590

Cheaper than 43% · #86 cheapest of 153 in New York

Median debt at graduation$21,500

Lower than 63%

Student–faculty ratio6 : 1

Lower than 94%

Undergraduate enrollment8,973

Larger than 87%

Percentiles compare Columbia University in the City of New York with the nation's 2,196 four-year colleges, among schools reporting each statistic. State ranks count four-year colleges in New York.

Student body

Undergraduate vs. graduate

34,982students
  • Undergraduate8,97326%
  • Graduate26,00974%

Undergraduates by gender

8,973undergrads
  • Women4,01445%
  • Men4,95955%

Undergraduates by race / ethnicity

  • White29%
  • Black7.5%
  • Hispanic15%
  • Asian19%
  • Other or multiracial30%

Graduate gender splits aren't published in this data, so the gender chart covers undergraduates only.

By the numbers

Undergraduate enrollment
8,973
Graduate enrollment
26,009
Student–faculty ratio
6 : 1
Pell Grant recipients
23%
First-generation students
25%
Students over 25
14%
Median family income
$31,310
Avg faculty salary (academic year)
$193,644
Endowment
$14,782,492,000

Colleges don't publish true class-size data; student–faculty ratio (IPEDS) is the closest public measure of it.

Admissions

Admission rate
4.0%
Test scores
Considered but not required
SAT range (25th–75th %)
1510–1580
SAT average
1553
SAT reading
740–780
SAT math
770–800
ACT composite
34–35
Average GPA (estimated)
4.00

Cost

In-state tuition
$71,845
Room & board
$17,580
Books & supplies
$1,440
Total cost of attendance
$89,472
Average net price
$21,590

Net price is the total cost minus grants and scholarships — what students actually pay. It varies sharply by family income; see the breakdown below.

Outcomes

Graduated (within 6 years)
96%
Graduated on time (4 years)
81%
First-year retention
98%
Transferred to another college
0%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$88,535
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$102,491
Median debt at graduation
$21,500
Students with federal loans
14%
Paying down their loans (1 year in)
70%

About 15% of students who finish here need more than four years — each extra year adds roughly another year of tuition and living costs.

Graduating on time

By student background (4 years)

All students
81%
Low-income (Pell)
81%
First-generation
78%

When these bars run close together, students from every background tend to finish at similar rates — a sign the school supports the ~30% who are first-gen or low-income.

Campus life & athletics

On-campus housing
Yes
Dorm capacity
13,284
Dorm capacity vs undergrads
100%+
Housing charge (year)
$10,440
Meal plan (year)
$6,360
Application fee
$85
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FCS
Football conference
Ivy Group
Varsity athletes
973 (519 men · 454 women)

Housing and fees: IPEDS 2023–24. Athletics rosters: Equity in Athletics data, 2024–25. Dorm capacity can include graduate and family housing, so the share of undergrads can top 100%.

Varsity sports (18)

Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)288
Football111
Rowing87
Swimming and Diving (combined)72
Soccer61
Fencing48
Baseball40
Other Sports40
Basketball31
Lacrosse31
Wrestling31
Squash28
Tennis23
Field Hockey19
Softball19
Volleyball18
Golf16
Archery10

Athlete counts per sport, Equity in Athletics data, 2024–25.

Campus safety

Safety grade
C
Reported offenses per 1,000 students
2.6 / year
Violent offenses (2022–2024)
87
Property offenses (2022–2024)
189

On-campus criminal offenses reported under the Clery Act, 2022–2024, across 7 campuses (35,173 students). Counts reflect reports, not convictions — schools with strong reporting cultures often show more, so a higher count doesn't simply mean a more dangerous campus.

Reported offenses in an average year

The same 2022–2024 Clery Act reports, divided down to one year.

92reported offenses a year
29 violent a year63 property a year

By offense type, per year

Burglary
61
Rape
15
Fondling
7.7
Aggravated assault
5.3
Motor vehicle theft
1.3
Robbery
1.0
Arson
1.0

Averages, not a forecast — a single year can run well above or below this. Bars are scaled against this campus's most-reported offense, so they compare types here rather than against other schools.

What you'll actually pay, by family income

Average net price (total cost minus grants and scholarships) paid by aided students in each family-income band.

< $30k
$4,570
$30–48k
$2,275
$48–75k
$5,866
$75–110k
$11,782
$110k+
$50,621

College Scorecard / IPEDS, most recent year. Family income is total household income; net price covers tuition, fees, room, board and supplies after grant aid, for students receiving federal aid.

Four-year (or more) true cost

Net price for your family's income, projected across the time it actually takes students here to graduate.

Est. total to a degree
$24,851

$5,866/year × about 4.2 years — most students here don't finish in exactly four, and each extra term adds cost. A planning estimate from net-price and graduation-timing data, not a bill.

Does the school pay you to attend?

Grant aid from the school's own funds — the discount off sticker, on top of any federal or state help.

51%
of first-years get a grant from the school
$61,951
average award, among those who get one

Columbia University in the City of New York discounts heavily: 51% of freshmen are awarded a grant straight from the school, averaging $61,951. For many families the real price lands well below sticker.

Blends need-based and merit aid — IPEDS doesn't split the two, so a high number can mean generous merit scholarships, deep need-based aid, or both. Figures cover 1,494 full-time first-year undergraduates, 2022–23. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid.

Is it worth it?

A rough return-on-investment read from what graduates earn versus what they borrow.

Median earnings (10 years)
$102,491
Typical debt at graduation
$21,500
Debt vs. one year's pay
21%
Out-earn a HS grad
84%

Typical debt would take roughly 2.1 years to repay at about a tenth of median earnings.

Strong value

Graduates here tend to earn well relative to what they borrow — typical debt pays back fast, and most out-earn a high-school graduate.

Earnings are the College Scorecard median for former students (working, not enrolled) 10 years after entry — not a guarantee, and they vary a lot by major. Debt is the median federal loan balance at graduation.

The pay gap here

Median earnings 10 years after entry, split by gender.

Women
$99,696
Men
$106,037

Men out-earn women by $6,341 (6%) a decade out.

Federal figures for former students working and not enrolled, 10 years after they first entered. A gap this wide usually reflects which majors men and women here tend to choose — not different pay for the same job.

Campus climate

Summer high
85°F
Winter low
28°F
Annual rain
49.5″
Annual snow
29.8″

Average temperature

HighLow
20°60°90°JFMAMJJASOND

Average precipitation (inches)

0.02.34.6JFMAMJJASOND

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, New York Cntrl PK Twr, NY US station (2.1 mi from campus).

Median earnings of this school's own graduates 1 and 5 years after finishing each program, and median federal-loan debt at completion (College Scorecard). Small programs are privacy-suppressed (—). Click a major to compare colleges nationally.

Colleges similar to Columbia University in the City of New York

Schools with a comparable profile — size, selectivity, cost, and graduate outcomes. Compare Columbia University in the City of New York side by side →

Colleges near Columbia University in the City of New York

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent cohorts), IPEDS institutional characteristics, Equity in Athletics (EADA) data, Clery Act Campus Safety and Security data, and NOAA US Climate Normals. Distances are straight-line from campus coordinates. Percentiles compare schools of the same level (four-year vs. two-year) that report each statistic.