Columbia University

New York, NY
College Overlaps

FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Entrance Difficulty
Most Difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high
school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT I or over 29 on the ACT; about
30% or fewer of all applicants accepted.
High School Preparation
High School Graduation High school diploma required and GED is accepted
High School Program College preparatory program is required
High School Units Required or Recommended
Subject Required Units Recommended Units
English 4
Mathematics 4
Science 4
Foreign Language 4
Social Studies
History 4
Academic Electives 4
Examinations
Exam

Scores Due in Admissions
Office
SAT or ACT
SAT Only
ACT Only
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or
ACT
Required February 1
SAT Subject Tests Only

ACT Writing Test Policy Writing component required
Use of SAT/ACT Essay Not reported
APPLYING FOR ADMISSION
Admissions Office
Address 116th Street and Broadway
City, State, Zip New York, NY 10027
Phone (212) 854-2522
Fax
E-mail ugrad-ask@columbia.edu
Application Dates and Fees
Regular Admission Deadline January 1
Application Fee $85
Application Fee Waiver Available
Regular Admission
Notification
April 1
Accept Offer of Admission By May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified after
May 1
Waiting List Used Yes
Defer Admission Student can defer admission
Transfer Admission Transfer applications accepted
Early Admission
Early Decision Offered Yes
Early Decision Deadline November 1
Early Decision Notification December 15
Early Action Offered No
Early Action Deadline
Early Action Notification
Application Form
Common Application Accepted, supplemental forms required
Universal College Application Not accepted
Electronic Application Available
Other Application Requirements
Interview Not required
Essay or Personal
Statement
Required for all freshmen
Letters of
Recommendation
3 required for all freshmen
Other SAT and 2 SAT Subject Tests or ACT required for
freshmen
Financial Need Financial need is not a consideration in the admissions
process






























SELECTION OF STUDENTS
Factor
Very
Important Important Considered
Not
Considered
Rigor of Secondary School
Record
X

Academic GPA X

Standardized Tests X

Class Rank X

Recommendations X

Essay X

Interview

X

Level of Applicant's Interest

X
Extracurricular Activities X

Volunteer Work

X

Particular
Talent/Ability
X

Character/Personal
Qualities
X

First Generation to Attend
College
X

State Residency

X
Geographic Residence

X

Relation with Alumnus

X

Religious Affiliation/
Commitment
X
Ethnicity

X

Work Experience

X

PROFILE OF FALL ADMISSION
Overall Admission Rate 7% of 31,851 applicants were admitted
Women 7% of 17,165 applicants were admitted
Men 8% of 14,686 applicants were admitted
Students Enrolled 1,415 (60%) of 2,362 admitted students
enrolled
Women 697 (61%) of 1,141 admitted students
enrolled
Men 718 (59%) of 1,221 admitted students
enrolled
Early Decision Admission Rate 20% of 3086 applicants were admitted
Early Action Admission Rate
Students Offered Wait List
Students Accepting Wait List
Position

Students Admitted From Wait List
Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)
Average GPA Not reported
3.75 and Above Not reported
3.50 - 3.74 Not reported
3.25 - 3.49 Not reported
3.00 - 3.24 Not reported
2.50 - 2.99 Not reported
2.00 - 2.49 Not reported
SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen
SAT Math 700-790 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800 76%
Score of 600 - 700 22%
Score of 500 - 600 2%
Score of 400 - 500 0%
Score of 300 - 400 0%
Score of 200 - 300 0%
SAT Critical Reading 690-780 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800 73%
Score of 600 - 700 24%
Score of 500 - 600 3%
Score of 400 - 500 0%
Score of 300 - 400 0%
Score of 200 - 300 0%
SAT Writing 690-780 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800 73%
Score of 600 - 700 24%
Score of 500 - 600 3%
Score of 400 - 500 0%
Score of 300 - 400 0%
Score of 200 - 300 0%
ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen
ACT Composite 31-34 range of middle 50%
Score of 30 - 36 85%
Score of 24 - 29 15%
Score of 18 - 23 0%
Score of 12 - 17 0%
Score of 6 - 11 0%
Score of 5 or Below 0%
Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
High School Class Rank
National Merit Scholar Not reported
Valedictorian Not reported
Class President Not reported
Student Government Officer Not reported







TUITION AND EXPENSES
Cost of
Attendance
$63,923
Tuition and Fees $49,138
Room and Board $11,978
Books and
Supplies
$2,807
Other Expenses Not reported
Payment Plans Installment plan, prepayment discount, external finance
company
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID
Financial Aid Office
E-mail ugrad-finaid@columbia.edu
Web Site Financial Aid Web Site
Net Price Calculator URL Net Price Calculator URL
Application Process
Application Deadline March 1
Award Notification On or about April 1
Methodology for Awarding
Institutional Aid
Federal and Institutional Methodologies
Forms Required Cost to File
FAFSA
Code is E00485
Free
CSS/Financial Aid Profile $25 for first college, $16 each additional
PROFILE OF 2012-13 FINANCIAL AID
Freshmen
Financial Aid Applicants 882 (62.3%) of freshmen
Found to Have Financial
Need
725 (82.2%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid 725 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met 725 (100.0%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need
Met
100%
Average Award $43,087
Need-Based Gift Received by 691 (95.3%) of aid recipients, average
amount $42,785
Need-Based Self-Help Received by 526 (72.6%) of aid recipients, average
amount $2,263
Merit-Based Gift Received by 5 (.7%) of aid recipients
Merit-Based Gift Not reported
All Undergraduates
Financial Aid
Applicants
3,324 (54.8%) of undergraduates
Found to Have Financial
Need
3,161 (52.1%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid 3,161 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met 3,161 (100.0%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of 100%
Need Met
Average Award $42,716
Need-Based Gift Received by 3,028 (95.8%) of aid recipients, average
amount $42,716
Need-Based Self-Help Received by 2,532 (80.1%) of aid recipients, average
amount $3,135
Merit-Based Gift Received by 18 (.6%) of aid recipients
Merit-Based Gift Not reported
Borrowing
2012 Graduates Who
Took Out Loans
Not reported
Average Indebtedness of
2012 Graduates
Not reported
Parents Borrowing PLUS Loans
Parents of Students
Receiving Aid
Not reported
Parents of Students Not
Receiving Aid
Not reported
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
Loans
Federal Loans Federal Perkins loans
State Loans
Other Loans Alternative loans
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Available
Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships,
Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships
Non-NeedBased
Available
None
Non-Need Awards
Academic Interest/Achievement
Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards Not reported
Top Areas (By Money
Awarded)
Not reported
Creative Arts/Performance
Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards Not reported
Top Areas (By Money
Awarded)
Not reported
Special Achievements/Activities
Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards Not reported
Top Areas (By Money
Awarded)
Not reported
Special Characteristics
Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards Not reported
Top Areas (By Money
Awarded)
Not reported
Employment
Work-Study Programs Federal work study available, other work study
available
Average Earnings from
On-Campus
Employment
Not reported








LOCATION AND SETTING
New York Population 1,537,195
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Environment Very large city
Campus Size 36 acres
Weather
Temperature 24.9 average low in January, 78.9 average high in September
Rain 119 rainy days per year
Getting Around
Campus Map Map
Nearest Airport New York City
Nearest Bus Station New York City
Nearest Train Station New York City
HOUSING
College Housing College offers housing to students
Types of Housing Coed dorms, disabled student housing,
fraternity/sorority housing, cooperative housing
Students in College
Housing
100% of freshmen, 94% of all students
Housing Requirements Freshmen are required to live on campus
Freshman Housing
Guarantee
Freshmen are guaranteed housing
Students Living Off
Campus/Commuting
6%
Off-Campus Housing
Assistance
Assistance in locating off-campus housing is
available






SECURITY
24-Hour Emergency Phone/
Alarm Devices
Available
24-Hour Security Patrols Available
Late-Night Transport/Escort
Services
Available
Electronically Operated Housing
Entrances
Available
PERSONAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Health Service Offered
Personal Counseling Offered
Child Care Not offered
SPORTS AND RECREATION
Intercollegiate Athletics
Athletic Conferences NCAA Division I
Mascot Lion
School Colors Columbia blue and white































Intercollegiate Sports Offered
Sport
WOMEN MEN
Offered
Scholarships
Given Offered
Scholarships
Given
Archery x
Baseball x
Basketball x x
Crew x x
Cross-Country Running x x
Fencing x x
Field Hockey x
Football x
Golf x
Lacrosse x
Softball x
Swimming And Diving x x
Track And Field x x
Wrestling x

Women's
Club Sports
badminton, ice hockey, racquetball, riflery, rugby, skiing (cross-
country), skiing (downhill), soccer, squash, table tennis, tennis,
ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, water polo
Men's Club
Sports
archery, badminton, lacrosse, racquetball, riflery, rugby, skiing
(cross-country), skiing (downhill), soccer, squash, table tennis,
tennis, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, water polo
Recreational Sports
Intramural
Sports
badminton, field hockey, racquetball, soccer, softball, squash,
swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Activities and
Organizations
choral groups, concert band, dance, drama theatre, jazz
band, literary magazine, marching band, music ensembles,
music theatre, opera, radio station, student government,
student newspaper, student film society, symphony
orchestra, television station, yearbook
Sororities 10% of women participate
Fraternities 10% of men participate
ROTC Army ROTC is offered off campus, Navy ROTC is offered
on campus, Air Force ROTC offered off campus








STUDENT BODY
Coeducational Yes
All Undergraduates 6,068
Women 2,864 (47.2%)
Men 3,204 (52.8%)
Full-Time Undergraduates 6,068
Ethnicity of Students from U.S. 2.2% American Indian/Alaskan Native
22.4% Asian
13.5% Black/African-American
17.2% Hispanic/Latino
38.4% White
6.3% Unknown
International Students 12.2%
Average Age 20
All Graduate Students Not reported
UNDERGRADUATE RETENTION AND GRADUATION
First-Year Students Returning 99.0%
Students Graduating
Within 4 Years
90.9%
Students Graduating
Within 5 Years
95.4%
Students Graduating
Within 6 Years
98.0%

AFTER GRADUATION
Graduates Offered Full-Time
Employment Within 6 Months
57%
Average Starting Salary $51,887 per year
Graduates Pursuing
Advanced Study Directly
Not reported
Disciplines Pursued Not reported