Updated February 19, 2025
Columbia University in the City of New York Acceptance Rate and Statistics
What is attending Columbia like?
If you want to study in a big city but are also drawn to the aesthetics of a beaux arts campus, Columbia may be the school for you. An Ivy League school known for its history of activism and long list of prolific alums (hello, Barack Obama, Joseph Campbell, and Jenny Slate!), the campus sits in the West Harlem neighborhood of New York City. It’s well known for its “Core” approach to curriculum.
Like a traditional liberal arts college, the Core Curriculum assures Columbia students have a strong foundation of general knowledge and classic academics, from foreign language to literature to physical education — Columbia’s one of the final institutions that require a swim test to graduate.
Columbia’s undergrads are split into three different colleges: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Barnard College. Barnard College has a separate admissions process with its own stats, which you can read about here!
Columbia University 2023-2024 Admissions Data
Columbia University Admissions Statistics
As an Ivy League university, Columbia’s acceptance rate is a cool 3.9%. But if you apply early decision, your chance of getting in is higher at 12.5%. Note that if you apply early decision, you’ll be committed to end, so make sure Columbia’s definitely the right place before applying early.
2023-2024 Columbia College and School of Engineering and The Fu Foundation Applied Science (Class of 2028) Acceptance Rate
| Admission Cycle | Number of applicants | Number admitted | Acceptance rate |
| Early Decision | 6,009 | 750 | 12.5% |
| Regular Decision | 54,239 | 1,569 | 2.9% |
| All Applicants | 60,248 | 2,319 | 3.9% |
Columbia Acceptance Rate History
| Year | Number of applicants | Number admitted | Acceptance rate |
| 2023-2024 (Class of 2028) | 60,248 | 2,319 | 3.9% |
| 2022-2023 (Class of 2027) | 60,879 | 2,404 | 3.9% |
| 2021-2022 (Class of 2026) | 61,110 | 2,524 | 4.1% |
| 2020-2021 (Class of 2025) | 40,462 | 2,695 | 6.7% |
| 2019-2020 (Class of 2024) | 42,823 | 2,332 | 5.4% |
Columbia Class of 2027 Middle 50% score range of admitted students (25th and 75th percentiles)*
| SAT Math | 770-800 |
| SAT ERW | 730-780 |
| ACT Math | 32-35 |
| ACT Reading | 34-36 |
| ACT English | 35-36 |
| ACT Science | 33-36 |
| ACT Composite | 34-35 |
*What does this mean? The middle 50% score range refers to students from the 25th to the 75th percentile of admitted students. So if 100 students were admitted and we ranked their SAT scores from lowest to highest, we’d be looking at 50 students’ stats (from student 25 through student 75).
What is Columbia looking for?
According to Columbia’s admissions site, the admissions team looks for students who have the “intellect, curiosity and dynamism” indicative of the Columbia student body. They emphasize their holistic admissions process, which assures that there’s no cut-off test score or GPA for admitted students. Lastly, they look for students who highlight the following:
- Academic preparation
- Curiosity
- Engagement with others
- Individual voice
- Knowledge of Columbia
You’ll want to showcase these components in your application, either in your activities, essay, or academic profile.
Other colleges you may be interested in:
| College Name | Number of applicants (Class of 2028) | Number admitted (Class of 2028) | Acceptance rate (Class of 2028) |
| New York University | 118,000 | 9,440 | 8% |
| Barnard College | 11,836 | 1,045 | 8.8% |
| Yale University | 57,465 | 2,146 | 3.7% |
PrepMaven can help you in the admissions process
Wondering how to get into Columbia University? PrepMaven can help you along the way. Whether you’re looking to boost your test scores, write a killer personal statement, or improve your GPA, we can be a helpful resource. With tutors who are graduates of top universities, valedictorians, National Merit Finalists, and National AP Scholars, we’re here to help you no matter what step you’re at in the admissions process.
Give us a call at 609-945-2264 or fill out our website form to learn how our flexible packages can work for you.
Alexis
Alexis is a tutor, writer, and producer. She graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As a tutor, she loves to help students explore their unique stories and share their personal journeys through impactful essay writing.