Columbia University

New York, NY · Private · 8,973 undergrads

Admit rate: 4.0% (57,613 applicants)
SAT middle 50%: 1510–1580 (ACT 34–35)
Undergraduates: 8,973 (19.7% international)
Average net price: $21,590 (per year after aid)
Graduation rate: 96% (within 6 years)

Deadlines

Early Decision: Nov. 1, 2026
Regular Decision: Jan. 1, 2027

Essays

Intellectual development list (100 words)

List the titles of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.

Lived experience (150 words)

Tell us about an aspect of your life so far or your lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia's multidimensional and collaborative environment.

Disagreement (150 words)

At Columbia, students representing a wide range of perspectives are invited to live and learn together. In such a community, questions and debates naturally arise. Please describe a time when you did not agree with someone and discuss how you engaged with them and what you took away from the interaction.

Adversity (150 words)

In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not anticipate. Please describe a situation in which you have navigated through adversity and discuss how you changed as a result.

Why Columbia (150 words)

Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia.

Areas of study (150 words)

What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering?

Editor's notes

Columbia has no interview, and its CDS lists the essay as 'Very important', so the six-part supplement does a lot of the work an interview would elsewhere. Plan it as a set: each answer should show something the others don't.
ED is binding and Columbia's ED pool is about a tenth of its applicants (5,497 of 61,031 for the Class of 2030). Apply ED only if you'd enroll and your family has run the net price calculator; aid is the only release Columbia names.
This is the last test-optional year. If you have a score in the middle-50% range for submitters (1510-1560 SAT, 34-36 ACT), think about sending it. If you don't, Columbia says you won't be at a disadvantage.
Choose College or Engineering on purpose. Engineering wants a math or science teacher letter and strongly advises calculus, chemistry and physics, and your areas-of-study answer has to fit the school you pick.