Columbia University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

Located in New York City, Columbia University is an Ivy League School with an acceptance rate of 5.3%. Considering applying to this highly selective school? Here are the Columbia University admissions statistics you should know.

Why Columbia University?

• Location: New York, New York
• Campus Features: Columbia's location in Upper Manhattan makes it an excellent choice for strong students looking for a truly urban campus. Barnard College adjoins the campus.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 6:1
• Athletics: The Columbia Lions compete at the NCAA Division I level.
• Highlights: Columbia is a highly selective member of the prestigious Ivy League, and it consistently ranks as one of the top national universities. Academic strengths span the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Columbia University had an acceptance rate of 5.3%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 5 students were admitted, making Columbia's admissions process highly competitive.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Columbia University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Columbia University has a highly competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average SAT/ACT scores. However, Columbia has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. Strong application essays and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside Columbia's average range.

In the graph above, you'll notice a lot of red dots (rejected applicants) hidden beneath the blue and green dots (accepted applicants). Many students with "A" averages and high test scores were rejected by Columbia. For this reason, even strong students should consider Columbia a reach school.