Columbia University Acceptance rate

Overview

Columbia University, located in the vibrant area of Upper Manhattan, New York City, is a prestigious institution recognized globally as part of the Ivy League. It stands out as a top choice for international students looking for study-abroad opportunities, consistently ranking among the top 50 global universities over the past ten years. In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report National University Rankings, Columbia is placed at number 13 in the United States.

Columbia University offers a welcoming and diverse community, attracting students from various parts of the world and different cultural backgrounds. For the Class of 2028, the university received over 60,000 applications, but only about 2,300 students were admitted. With an acceptance rate of approximately 3.85%, getting into Columbia is highly competitive, making it one of the most selective universities in the country.

Columbia University Acceptance Rate What’s new?

Columbia University has a welcoming community with students from many different countries and backgrounds. For the Class of 2028, Columbia got more than 60,000 applications. But only about 2,300 students were accepted to study at the university. This means that with an acceptance rate of only 3.85% or close to 4%, getting into Columbia University is very hard.

Ethnicity Information

Below is the distribution of students by ethnicity at Columbia University:

As of Fall 2023, Columbia University has more than 20,000 international students. This includes both students currently enrolled and those participating in post-graduation Optional Practical Training. The total number of enrolled students at the university is over 13,000. Among these students, 51.68% are female and 48.32% are male. There are 1,303 Indian students studying at Columbia. The largest groups of international students come from China, India, Canada, South Korea, France, and other countries.

Recently, Columbia University has seen a drop in its acceptance rate compared to previous years. For the Class of 2028, the acceptance rate is 3.85%, making it a very competitive school for admissions.

In the last few years, more and more students have been applying to Columbia University. For the Class of 2028, Columbia received 60,248 applications. Out of these, only 2,319 students were accepted to study at the university in the USA. In contrast, for the Class of 2024, 40,084 students applied, and 2,465 were admitted.

No matter where you are from or your citizenship, the admissions process at Columbia University is mostly the same for all applicants. Indian students need to meet all the admission requirements to enroll at Columbia University. For full admission to any graduate program, applicants must have an undergraduate degree, GRE or GMAT scores, and proof of English language skills. For undergraduate courses, applicants need to have completed secondary school qualifications. For more details about Columbia University admissions, check here.

Columbia University English Language Requirements

To apply to Columbia University, international students must show they are good at English. This is a key requirement. Students can provide scores from tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo.

Columbia University Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores

To get into Columbia University, students must take a standardized test like the SAT or ACT, or other entrance exams like GMAT or GRE for graduate programs. Here are some admission statistics for the Columbia UG Class of 2028:

Columbia University Location