Columbia University

If you are planning on applying to Columbia, the regular decision application deadline is January 1 and the fee for the application costs $85.

Students who apply to Columbia for the fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

Columbia Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here is an overiew of some of Columbia's admissions stats.

Columbia 2022	Admissions Statistics
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Waitlist	Yes

Columbia University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Columbia University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 1	December 15
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	No	––	––
Regular Decision	Yes	January 1	April 1

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Considering Applying Early to Columbia?

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Columbia offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.

Some students apply to college early to boost their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of admission, since it is a way to show your interest in a school.

➡️ See a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Columbia University Admissions

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Transferring to Columbia University

It is extremely difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Columbia

Columbia has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Columbia?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are given the most weight in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the admissions factors where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Columbia

Wondering what factors are considered by Columbia during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Class Rank	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Talent/Ability	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with Columbia for more information on admission factors.

Columbia Application Requirements

To apply to Columbia, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with Columbia's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	3
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Transcript of High School Record	√

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Columbia?

Columbia has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Columbia looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

Columbia is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

What is a Good SAT Score for Columbia?

To be competitive with other Columbia applicants, you should aim to score between 1490 and 1560 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Columbia 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1560 and 25% of scored lower than 1490, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Columbia students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 727 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Columbia students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 727 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for Columbia?

To be most competitive at Columbia, you should strive to earn between 34 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Columbia's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 34 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Columbia students. Only one out of every four students scored below 34.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Columbia University

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Columbia.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1. Applicants should hear back by May 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Columbia during the following terms:

• Fall Term

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Columbia Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Columbia?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Columbia.

Does Columbia accept transfer credits?

✅ Columbia accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Columbia accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Columbia accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Columbia?

❌ No, Columbia is test optional, so you can choose whether or not to send your ACT or SAT scores. If you have higher than average scores, you may want to send them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Columbia's acceptance rate?

✅ Columbia's acceptance rate is 4%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Columbia?

✅ Columbia offers early decision but the school has not provided an acceptance rate.

Want To Learn More About Columbia?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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