Columbia University In The City Of New York

Columbia University admits approximately 4.2% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 25 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Columbia among the most selective universities in the United States, with acceptance rates comparable to institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Columbia's selectivity and typical four-year institutions, with Columbia being 66.4 percentage points more selective than its peer median. This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students with perfect test scores and outstanding academic records face significant uncertainty in the admission process.

Many students who would thrive at Columbia do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots. For this reason, students considering Columbia should build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes.

The university's location in Manhattan and Ivy League status contribute to intense application competition. Students should treat Columbia as a reach school regardless of their qualifications and focus on demonstrating fit with the university's academic programs and urban environment.

Given these admission realities, applicants should prepare for a holistic review process where academic excellence represents just the baseline for consideration.

Columbia University's published cost of attendance reaches $86,042 per year, including $69,045 in tuition, $16,800 for room and board, and $1,392 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays significantly less after financial aid, with a net price of $20,148 representing savings of $65,894 from the sticker price.

This 76.6% reduction demonstrates Columbia's substantial financial aid commitment to making education accessible across income levels. The net price falls $6,995 below the peer median of $27,143, indicating that Columbia provides more generous aid packages than typical four-year institutions despite its higher sticker price.

Net costs vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $6,342 for families earning under $30,000 to $44,695 for those earning over $110,000. This progressive pricing structure reflects Columbia's need-based aid philosophy, where lower-income families receive substantially more grant assistance.

The university's location in Manhattan contributes to higher baseline costs, but robust endowment resources enable significant aid packages that reduce actual costs for most students. Families should focus on net price rather than sticker price when evaluating affordability, as Columbia's aid packages substantially modify the financial reality for enrolled students.

Columbia University graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth throughout their careers, with median earnings rising from $88,535 six years after enrollment to $98,435 at eight years and $102,491 at ten years, representing 15.8% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 1,384 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures and representing outcomes across Columbia's diverse academic portfolio.

Graduates earn $17,798 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Columbia at the 93.2nd percentile for earnings uplift and reflecting the university's effectiveness in translating educational opportunity into economic outcomes. Low-income graduates earn $113,500, ranking in the top 5% nationally and indicating that Columbia's outcomes extend across different socioeconomic backgrounds within its student body.

Earnings span from $62,687 at the 25th percentile to $162,279 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.6:1 ratio that reflects meaningful variation in career paths and program choices. Approximately 24.4% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating Columbia's strong preparation for both advanced education and direct workforce entry in high-earning fields.

Columbia University offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for comprehensive outcome analysis. Computer Science ranks #10 nationally and #2 in New York, producing 341 graduates with median earnings of $160,457 and a value score of 95.1.

Applied Economics ranks #13 nationally and #1 in New York, graduating 338 students with median earnings of $117,355 and a value score of 94.1. American Government and Politics ranks #10 nationally and #2 in New York, graduating 255 students with median earnings of $79,220.

American History ranks #9 nationally and #2 in New York, with 148 graduates earning $70,499. Additional standout programs include Social Sciences, Other (#2 nationally, #1 in New York) and Behavioral Neuroscience (#10 nationally, #2 in New York).

These rankings reflect Columbia's strength across diverse academic fields, from high-earning STEM programs to competitive liberal arts offerings, with several programs achieving top-10 national recognition while maintaining substantial enrollment numbers that indicate consistent program quality and student demand.