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How to Apply for Undergraduate Admission​

Undergraduate Applicants

First-Year Applicants

Transfer Applicants

Combined Plan Applicants

International Applicants

To apply for undergraduate admission at Columbia University, you must apply to the admissions office. To get started on your application, begin by determining if you are eligible for admission consideration by reviewing the below criteria. All first-year applicants must also complete the Common Application online. After submitting your Common Application, you will be prompted to log in again to access additional required materials, such as SAT or ACT scores and high school transcripts.

First-Year Applicants

As a first-year applicant, consider applying to Columbia. But how do you know if you’re ready? What are the requirements for applying as a first-year applicant? And what are the deadlines for submitting applications? To apply as a first-year student at Columbia University, applicants must meet these basic requirements:

  • Be 17 years old by September 1st of their senior year (for example, if your birthday is on October 1st and your high school plans on graduating in 2019, then this would mean that you must turn 18 by September 1st).
  • Have earned an accumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on academic work completed in secondary school.
  • Submit SAT/ACT scores taken within two years before the application deadline.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation from teachers who taught courses in which they were enrolled during their junior year (or earlier) at an accredited secondary school.
  • Submit official transcripts accompanied by an official translation into English if required by foreign institutions attended

Transfer Applicants

Transfer applicants must have completed at least 30 credits at the time of application. If you are applying to transfer as a junior or senior, you must have earned at least 12 credits in your intended major.

Visiting Students

Visiting students are not eligible to apply for financial aid. To be considered a visiting student, you must use and be accepted by the same department you wish to study at Columbia. Visiting students are also not eligible for merit-based scholarships.

Combined Plan Applicants

Combined plan applicants have been admitted to Columbia College and a School of Engineering program.

Combined Plan Applicants must apply to two separate admissions processes: Columbia College and the School of Engineering. Each application deadline is different, so please read carefully before submitting your application materials.

International Applicants

  • International applicants must have a TOEFL or IELTS score.
  • International students must have a valid passport.
  • International students must have a valid visa, if applicable to their country of origin.

If you’re interested in applying to Columbia University, you should know that the process takes work. However, if you have what it takes, this may be the school for you! You will need to take SAT or ACT and submit transcripts and letters of recommendation from teachers or counsellors who can attest to your academic accomplishments. If you don’t meet these requirements when applying for admission, then consider taking some time off before trying again later down the road when your scores might improve with more experience under your belts!