Undergraduate Admissions Process

// Columbia University

The undergraduate admissions process at Columbia University in New York can confuse students and their families.

How to apply

To apply, you’ll need to:

Apply online at columbia.edu/apply.
Complete and submit the required application materials via the Common Application or Coalition Application.
Submit your $80 application fee (or request a fee waiver). If you are applying for financial aid, do so after you’ve been admitted.

If you’re still in high school or college, submit your official high school transcript(s) or college transcript(s) with your application; if you have already graduated from high school but did not attend college at all after graduating from high school, we will accept just one copy of your most recent official academic record (e.g., diploma).

New SAT/ACT requirements

The SAT and ACT are required for admission. All test dates are accepted, but you must submit your scores electronically. Your score reports must be sent directly from the College Board or ACT Inc., not by you or a school official who took the test on your behalf. Your standardized test scores are valid for five years after you take them.

College Application Fee

You’ll need to pay a non-refundable application fee of $80 for domestic students and $90 for international students.

If you’re applying for early decision or action, the deadline is November 1; if not, the regular decision deadline is January 1st. These deadlines are optional–if you miss them, your application will be considered late and thus ineligible for consideration by Columbia University Undergraduate Admissions Office.

You may also be asked by financial aid counsellors at your high school or college(s) to submit documentation showing that your family meets certain income requirements before they can determine whether they can provide any financial aid package on top of what’s already available through FAFSA/CSS Profile forms.

International Student Application

Columbia University is an international university with a strong international community. Columbia has over 3,000 students from over 100 countries studying at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels. The University is committed to maintaining a diverse student body by admitting applicants regardless of race or national origin (including undocumented students), sexual orientation or gender identity.

To apply for admission as an international student, you must have completed your secondary school education in your home country’s educational system(s) and achieved excellent grades throughout high school (A- average). Applicants who need to meet these requirements may still be considered if their academic record demonstrates the potential for success at Columbia University.

Follow these steps to be admitted to Columbia University.

To be admitted to Columbia University, you must:

Do your research. Before you apply, you’ll need to know the admission requirements for your intended major and whether or not the school requires an application essay.
Apply early! Most schools have rolling admissions policies that allow them to accept applications throughout the year, but some only accept applications during certain months (for example, January 1 through April 30). If this applies at your school of choice, make sure that yours is submitted well before those dates so they have plenty of time to review it before making their decision.

How is your application reviewed?

When you submit your application, it goes through an admissions process. The first step is for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to review your application materials and determine whether or not they meet Columbia’s admission standards. If they do, they send your file to one of our five academic departments.

The departmental readers then look at each applicant’s file and decide whether or not they should be admitted into their program based on their qualifications and the space available in each major. After all five departments have made their decisions regarding applicants’ admission status, they are reviewed by a committee of faculty members from across campus who represent different disciplines within each department. Once these faculty members have reviewed all applications from all five departments, final decisions are made on who gets accepted into Columbia University!

How are admissions decisions made?

The Columbia admissions committee takes a holistic approach to evaluating applicants, considering more than just your grades and SAT scores. They also look at your extracurricular activities, personal statement and letters of recommendation. In addition, they consider teacher recommendations from teachers who know you well enough to write an accurate assessment of your academic abilities and personal qualities.

Early decision, early action and regular decision deadlines

Early decision: November 1
Early action: December 15
Regular decision: January 1
Combined Plan: February 8 (extended)
Transfer: March 1
Visiting Students: June 8 (updated)

What does Columbia look for in your application?

Demonstrate your interest in the school:
Show your passion for learning:
Demonstrate your leadership potential:
Show your commitment to service:
Demonstrate your ability to overcome adversity:
Demonstrate your ability to work with others