Columbia University
New York, New York
212-854-1754
Steeped in tradition, Columbia University is one of the leading
institutions of higher learning in the U.S. and includes 16 schools,
of which 15 offer graduate programs.
Founded in 1754 as King's College, Columbia is the oldest
institution of higher learning in New York and the fifth oldest in
the United States. In that year, Samuel Johnson began instruction
with eight students. Instruction in medicine began in 1767, and
Columbia was the first institution in the North American Colonies to
confer the M.D. degree in 1770. Through the 19th century, Columbia
continued its leadership and growth, establishing its Law School in
1858 and, in 1864, the country's first mining school, the precursor
of today's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. In the
1940's, atomic research by I.I. Rabi, Enrico Fermiand and Polykarp
Kusch placed Columbia's Physics Department in the international
spotlight.
Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism, founded in 1912, is the
country's foremost center of study and preparation for the
professional journalist, teaching the craft of journalism in a
high-pressure deadline atmosphere with emphasis on professional
ethics.
Other graduate programs include architecture, writing, music,
business, bioengineering, computer science, plasma physics,
international affairs, public health, dentistry, nursing, and social
work.
There are 5,700 faculty in teaching and research, 2,300 of which
are full-time. Total enrollment is about 5,500 undergraduates and
11,300 graduate students. Minorities account for 29% and Hispanics
6% of this number.
A full range of housing options including dormitory rooms and
suits and apartments is available.
Overview
Type of school:
Private institution
Year founded:
1754
Affiliation:
None
Academic calendar:
Semester
Undergraduate student body:
7,318
Environment:
Urban
Endowment:
$5,937,814,000
Admissions
Address
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Website
http://www.columbia.edu
Admissions E-mail
ugrad-admiss@columbia.edu
QuickFacts
Selectivity:
Most Selective
Average high school GPA:
3.8
Send application by:
January 2
Admissions Contact Information
Admissions director:
Jessica Marinaccio
Admissions office telephone:
(212) 854-2522
Fall 2008 Admissions Deadlines
Regular decision
Send application by:
January 2
Decision sent by:
April 1
Accept offer by:
May 1
Early decision
Send application by:
November 1
Decision sent by:
December 15
Early action
Not offered
Application fee:
$65
Is the fee refundable?
No
Can fee be waived for students with financial need?
Yes
Does school have a waiting list?
Yes
Can admission be deferred?
Yes
Accepted application formats:
Applications on floppy disks:
No
Applications via E-mail:
No
Electronic application:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/admissions/ugrad/
Tuition deposit:
$500 (Nonrefundable)
Room deposit:
N/A (Nonrefundable)
Admissions Requirements
High school completion requirement:
High school diploma is required and GED is accepted
General college-preparatory program:
Required
Distribution of high school units required and/or recommended*
| |
Units Required |
Units Recommended |
| English |
4 |
4 |
| Mathematics |
4 |
4 |
| Science |
4 |
4 |
| Lab |
N/A |
N/A |
| Foreign language |
4 |
4 |
| Social studies |
N/A |
4 |
| History |
4 |
4 |
| Academic electives |
3 |
3 |
| Total academic units |
N/A |
N/A |
*One unit equals one year of study or its equivalent.
Campus visit:
Neither required nor recommended
Admissions interview:
Neither required nor recommended
Off-campus interview:
May not be arranged
Does the college use SAT or ACT scores in admissions
decisions for first-time, first-year applicants?
Yes
SAT/ACT requirements:
Either SAT or ACT required.
SAT/ACT scores must be received by:
February 15
Tests accepted for Fall 2008 entering class:
ACT with writing
SAT Subject Test scores must be received by:
February 15
Open admission policy?
No
What is the relative importance of specific academic factors in
admission decisions?
Rigor of secondary school record:
Very important
Class rank:
Very important
Academic GPA:
Very important
Standardized test scores:
Very important
Application essay:
Very important
Recommendation:
Very important
What is the relative importance of specific nonacademic factors
in admission decisions?
Interview:
Considered
Extracurricular activities:
Important
Talent/ability:
Important
Character/personal qualities:
Very important
First generation:
N/A
Alumni/ae relation:
Considered
Geographical residence:
Considered
State residency:
Not considered
Religious affiliation/commitment:
Not considered
Racial/ethnic status:
Considered
Volunteer work:
Considered
Work experience:
Not considered
Level of applicant's interest:
N/A
2006-2007 Admissions Statistics
Selectivity:
Most Selective
Overall acceptance rate:
12%
Early-decision acceptance rate:
26%
Early-action acceptance rate:
N/A
Acceptance rate (excluding early-action and early-decision
students):
10%
Total applicants:
19,851
Total acceptances:
2,297
Total freshman enrollment:
1,337
Proportion of freshman enrolled from early action and early
decision:
N/A
| Proportion of freshman enrolled
from early action and early decision is not available for
graphing.
|
Male applicants:
8,829
Male acceptances:
1,172
Male freshman enrollment:
699
Female applicants:
11,022
Female acceptances:
1,125
Female freshman enrollment:
638
Students that applied here may also have applied to:
N/A
Out-of-state freshmen:
73%
Qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:
3,085
Applicants accepting a place on waiting list:
1,254
Students enrolled from waiting list:
23
2006-2007 Freshman Class Profile
Top 10 percent of high school class:
93%
Top 25 percent of high school class:
98%
Top 50 percent of high school class:
100%
First-year students submitting high school class standing:
59%
Average high school GPA:
3.8
First-year students submitting GPA:
99%
First-year students submitting SAT scores:
96%
SAT scores (25/75 percentile):
Critical Reading:
660 – 760
Math:
670 – 780
Combined:
1330 – 1540
Percent of first-time, first-year students enrolled in Fall 2006 with
scores in each range:
| |
SAT Critical Reading |
SAT Math |
| 700-800 |
62.0% |
67.0% |
| 600-699 |
32.0% |
29.0% |
| 500-599 |
6.0% |
4.0% |
| 400-499 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| 300-399 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| 200-299 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
First-year students submitting ACT scores:
17%
ACT scores (25/75 percentile):
English:
28 – 34
Math:
27 – 34
Composite:
28 – 33
Percent of first-time, first-year students enrolled in Fall 2006 with
scores in each range:
| |
ACT Composite |
ACT English |
ACT Math |
| 30-36 |
66.0% |
65.0% |
62.0% |
| 24-29 |
31.0% |
29.0% |
35.0% |
| 18-23 |
3.0% |
6.0% |
3.0% |
| 12-17 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| 6-11 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Below 6 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
