Columbia University

About Columbia University

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university located in New York City. It was founded in 1754 as King’s College and is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York. It is made up of three undergraduate colleges and graduate schools in a wide range of academic disciplines. Columbia is widely considered one of the top universities in the world and has produced many notable alumni in various fields, including multiple Nobel laureates and heads of state.

Columbia University is located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City, with its main campus stretching from West 116th to West 120th Streets and from Broadway to Amsterdam Avenue. It has a diverse student body, with students from over 150 countries and all 50 states. The university has a strong emphasis on research, with numerous research centers and institutes on campus.

The undergraduate colleges of Columbia are Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies. In addition to these undergraduate colleges, Columbia also has a number of graduate and professional schools including the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of International and Public Affairs, the School of the Arts, the School of Business, the School of Social Work, the School of Law and the Mailman School of Public Health.

Columbia has a strong tradition of producing successful alumni. Notable figures include: Barack Obama, former President of the United States; Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Supreme Court Justice; Warren Buffett, businessman and investor; J.D. Salinger, author of Catcher in the Rye; and many more.

Columbia also has a reputation for its rigorous academic programs, many of which are consistently ranked among the best in the country. The university’s faculty includes many renowned scholars and researchers, and the university has a strong commitment to both teaching and research.

Location

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Columbia University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process, but does not require them. Students who were admitted to Columbia University and enrolled typically had admission test scores in these ranges.

 25th Percentile*50th Percentile**75th Percentile***
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing730750780
Math760780800
 25th Percentile*50th Percentile**75th Percentile***
Composite343535
English353536
Math323435

Students Submitting Scores

 NumberPercent
SAT67244%
ACT35623%

Undergraduate Admissions

Number of applicants60,879
% admitted4%
% who enrolled64%

NOTES:
*   25% of students scored at or below
**  50% of students scored above and 50% scored below (i.e., midpoint of the test score distribution)
*** 25% of students scored above