College Profiles/ Columbia University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Columbia University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
New York, NY · 9,285 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Columbia University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Columbia University admitted 4.9% of 59,611 first-year applicants in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.[1] Early Decision applicants were admitted at 14.0%.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1510 to 1560.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $99,774.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $78,198.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, Regular Decision Jan 1.[3]
4.9%
Overall admit rate[1]
14.0%
Early Decision admit rate[1]
1510 to 1560
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$99,774
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$78,198
Average need-based grant[1]
$15.9B
Endowment, FY2025[4]
Columbia University at a Glance
- Location
- New York, NY
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 11:1[1]
- Endowment
- $15.9 billion (FY2025)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (2026-27 cycle); Required starting 2027-28 cycle[3]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition (Scoir), QuestBridge[3]
- First-year retention
- 98.0%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on Columbia University
The ConnectPrep take
Columbia's admissions committee looks for academic potential, intellectual strength, and the ability to think independently, along with character, maturity, motivation, and curiosity. Applicants choose Columbia College or Columbia Engineering at the time of application. Early Decision on Nov 1 shifts the numbers: 14.0% of 5,868 ED applicants were admitted versus 4.9% overall, about 2.9 times the overall rate. Early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacies, so the gap overstates the edge. Testing is optional for the 2026-2027 cycle and required for students enrolling in fall 2028. With a middle 50% SAT of 1510 to 1560, we advise submitting at 1535 or above. Columbia does not offer admission interviews, so the essays carry the personal side of the file. The common mistake is a late ED aid application, due Nov 15.
What to do this fall
- Decide now between Columbia College and Columbia Engineering; your student must choose one on the application.
- Send an SAT of 1535 or higher. Below that, apply test optional and keep testing toward 1560.
- With no admission interviews, use the essays to show independent thinking, motivation, and curiosity.
- File the financial aid application by Nov 15 for ED or Feb 15 for Regular Decision.
Applying to Columbia University? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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Columbia University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
59,611 |
2,946 |
4.9% |
| Early Decision[1] |
5,868 |
819 |
14.0% |
- Early Decision admits made up about 28% of all admitted students, so a large part of the class is filled before Regular Decision applications are read (ConnectPrep calculation from the figures above).
- The Early Decision admit rate is about 2.9 times the overall rate. Early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacy applicants, so the true advantage for a typical applicant is smaller.
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 61.0%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
740 to 777 |
| SAT Math[1] |
760 to 800 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1510 to 1560 |
| ACT composite[1] |
34 to 35 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
50% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
17% |
| Average high school GPA[1] |
4.25 |
| Ranked in top 10% of high school class[1] |
94% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1560 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 35 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1540, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Columbia University looks for
In its own words: Columbia's admissions committee says it considers each applicant's academic potential, intellectual strength, and ability to think independently, along with character, special abilities and interests, maturity, motivation, and curiosity.[5]
Columbia University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 1 |
mid-Dec |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 1 |
late Mar |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Columbia University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
| Financial aid |
Nov 15 (ED); Feb 15 (RD) |
ED financial aid application is due Nov 15; Columbia does not offer admission interviews.[3] |
See how Columbia University compares with other colleges in the Northeast deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Columbia University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$99,774 |
| Tuition[2] |
$72,800 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
47.6% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$78,198 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$81,072 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
100.0% |
First-year student living on campus (Columbia College and Columbia Engineering): tuition $72,800, fees $4,160, food $7,128, housing $12,522, books $1,320, personal $1,844.[2]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $99,774 cost of attendance down to roughly $21,576 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- Columbia University states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[6]
- Aid packages are loan-free.[2]
- Parents with calculated incomes below $66,000 (typical assets) are expected to contribute $0; families with calculated incomes between $66,000 and $150,000 (typical assets) can attend tuition-free.[2]
- International students: Need-aware for international students (need-blind for U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens); Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted international students.[6]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[7]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$4,570 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$2,275 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$5,866 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$11,782 |
| Over $110,000 |
$50,621 |
| All aided students |
$21,590 |
Academics and Majors at Columbia University
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Social sciences21%
- Computer and information sciences16%
- Engineering14%
- Biological/life sciences6%
- Mathematics and statistics6%
Signature programs
The Core Curriculum
Described as the heart of a Columbia College education, with shared seminars such as Literature Humanities, Contemporary Civilization, Art and Music Humanities, Frontiers of Science, and University Writing.[8]
Columbia Engineering (SEAS) as a separate point of entry
Applicants choose Columbia College or Columbia Engineering, so engineering-minded students apply directly to an engineering school inside an Ivy.[5]
Tuition-free under $150,000
Families with calculated incomes up to $150,000 and typical assets can attend tuition-free, and Columbia meets need without loans.[2]
Choosing a major and getting in
Applicants must choose either Columbia College or Columbia Engineering at the time of application. The Combined Plan (3-2 or 4-2 engineering) is for students already enrolled at other colleges, not high school seniors.[5]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision (binding, November 1 deadline).
- QuestBridge partner (QuestBridge page on admissions site).
- Combined Plan (3-2 / 4-2 engineering, for current college students only).
Columbia University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
98.0% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
84.4% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
95.6% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[7] |
$102,491 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[7] |
$21,500 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[7] |
23% |
Make Columbia University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
Columbia University FAQs
What is the Columbia University acceptance rate?
Columbia University admitted 4.9% of first-year applicants (2,946 of 59,611), according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set. The Early Decision admit rate was 14.0%.
When are the Columbia University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 1; Regular Decision Jan 1.
How much does Columbia University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $99,774. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $78,198. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for Columbia University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1560, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional (2026-27 cycle); Required starting 2027-28 cycle.
Is Columbia test optional for 2027?
Yes. Columbia College and Columbia Engineering remain test optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle. The SAT or ACT becomes required for students enrolling in fall 2028, with waivers available on request. The middle 50% SAT among enrolled students is 1510 to 1560, and we advise submitting a score at or above 1535.
Does Columbia meet full financial need?
Yes. Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans. Parents with calculated incomes below $66,000 and typical assets are expected to contribute $0, and families between $66,000 and $150,000 can attend tuition-free. Columbia is need-blind for U.S. citizens and need-aware for international students, while still meeting full need for admitted international students.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Columbia University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
