Columbia University
Admissions
Interested in attending Columbia University?
On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into Columbia University, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.
Admission Rates
Is it difficult to get into Columbia University?
Using the most up-to-date data on record, Columbia accepted 4% of applicants. We classify this as most selective.
In the most recent year, 55,939 people applied and 2,284 were accepted.
Applied/Accepted
Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 3 years at Columbia University:
Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.
Of those accepted, 62% ended up enrolling at Columbia University, making their yield rate Very High. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.
Application Factors
You can increase your chances of getting into Columbia University by looking at what the school considers during the application process.
Here are the things Columbia considers:
Very Important
- Academic GPA
- Application Essay
- Character/Personal Qualities
- Class Rank
- Extracurricular Activities
- Recommendation(s)
- Rigor of Secondary School Record
Important
- Talent/Ability
Considered
- Alumni/AE Relation
- First Generation
- Geographical Residence
- Interview
- Standardized Test Scores
- Volunteer Work
- Work Experience
Not Considered
- Level of Applicant's Interest
- Religious Affiliation/Commitment
- State Residency
Grades & Testing
Do you have the grades and test scores to get into Columbia University?
Grades
95% of freshmen who attended Columbia were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class, and 99% were in the top 25% of their graduating high school class.
Columbia is Test Optional. This means scores are considered if they are submitted, but applicants do not need to submit scores.
Applicants submitting SAT Scores
Applicants submitting ACT Scores
SAT Math Scores
SAT Verb Scores
SAT Composite Scores
Application Deadlines
These are the deadlines for applying to Columbia University. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.
Regular Admissions
Early Decision
Early Decision is a program in which students commit to attend a school if they are accepted. Some schools have a higher acceptance rate for Early Decision than regular decision. Columbia's Early Decision acceptance rate is 15%, compared to 4% overall. If you’re sure you want to attend Columbia University, you might consider applying Early Decision.
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