Continue reading to learn about how to apply to Columbia University, including admissions requirements, acceptance tips, and more.
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The acceptance rate at Columbia University is 4.29%. For the Class of 2029, Columbia University received 59,616 applications and admitted just 2,557 students. That means fewer than 5 out of every 100 applicants get accepted to Columbia University.
Columbia University doesn’t publish the number of admitted students via Early Decision (ED). However, according to Columbia Spectator, Columbia University's student newspaper, the Class of 2029 had 5,872 ED applicants, a 2.28% decrease from the 6,009 ED applicants in the previous year.
It’s extremely difficult to get into Columbia University. For the Class of 2029, only 4.29% of applicants were accepted, meaning 95.71% of applicants were rejected. Columbia University receives enough applications from qualified students to fill its class more than 20 times over.
Take our interactive quiz below to estimate your Columbia University admissions odds!
Here are the GPA and SAT/ACT requirements to get into Columbia University. We analyzed the 2024-2025 Common Data Set (CDS), which is an annual report that all universities fill out, detailing key admissions statistics of previous cycles.
Columbia University’s average GPA is 4.0. According to the CDS, applicants need nearly flawless academic records because 94% of Columbia’s Class of 2028 ranked in the top 10% of their high school class.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the average GPA of U.S. high school students is 3.0. This means that students admitted to Columbia University achieve over a full letter grade higher than the average high school student.
Columbia University’s average SAT score is 1540. For context, the national average SAT score is around 1050, meaning Columbia students score roughly 400 points higher than the typical test-taker.
Columbia's average SAT score of 1450 places Columbia in the top 1% of actual SAT test-takers and the top 1% nationally when adjusted for all U.S. high school students. In other words, students admitted to Columbia are near the top of the entire SAT performance chart.
Columbia University’s average ACT score is 35. In contrast, the national average ACT score is just 19.4, which means admitted students to Columbia score more than 15 points higher than the typical test-taker.
A 35 ACT score places students in the top 1% of all test-takers nationally. Columbia’s incoming class is composed of students who outperform 99% of test-takers across the country.
Columbia University looks for students who demonstrate academic potential, intellectual strength, and the ability to think independently. Columbia University also wants to see an applicant demonstrate their personality, special abilities and interests, maturity, motivation, and curiosity.
Here is how to show the traits that Columbia University looks for in your application:
Jessica Marinaccio, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions & Financial Aid at Columbia University, highlights what Columbia University is looking for:
“Your application is our instrument of evaluation, and beyond the opportunity to list your academic credentials, we believe your application allows you to express yourself: your passions, interests, background and, most important, what you might add to the Columbia community.”
Marinaccio reinforces that Columbia University is community-oriented. In your essay, you need to show how you’ll bring something new to campus: a voice, a cause, a curiosity, a cultural insight, a talent. Highlight how your impact will improve campus discussions, clubs, research, activism, or student life.
For example, “As founder of my high school's composting program, I’ve spent the last two years turning lunch scraps into community garden soil. I led workshops showing students how food waste links to climate injustice, especially in low-income neighborhoods. At Columbia, I want to bring this intersectional lens to the EcoReps and the Columbia Climate School. My goal is to create conversations that connect climate policy to racial equity through speaker events, dorm-based compost pilots, or even documentary screenings.”
Columbia University values Rigor of Secondary School Record, Class Rank, Academic GPA, Application Essay, and Recommendations as “Very Important.” Columbia University labels Standardized Test Scores as “Considered.”
The CDS makes it clear that Columbia University deeply values academic depth since nearly every factor is marked “Very Important.” Your high school transcript should show that you've consistently pursued the toughest courses available, including Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual-enrollment courses. Your essay and recommendations should reinforce your intellectual character, curiosity, and contributions.
Columbia University places the highest value on core academic indicators such as:
Interestingly, standardized test scores are no longer prioritized. This change signals a strategic shift in admissions, emphasizing sustained academic performance over one-time test results.
Columbia University’s shift may benefit students with strong classroom records, advanced coursework (e.g., AP, IB, honors classes), and an upward academic trend, especially those from schools or backgrounds where access to test prep resources is limited.
Columbia University places less emphasis on SAT/ACT scores, meaning applicants with lower test results but strong transcripts are now more competitive.
For Columbia University applicants, focus on academic rigor, consistent high performance, and academic achievement. Standardized testing may still play a supplementary role, but your high school coursework, grades, and demonstrated intellectual growth will drive admissions decisions.
Columbia University labels Extracurricular Activities and Character/Personal Qualities as “Very Important.” Columbia University also labels Talent/Ability as “Important.” The CDS also highlights that First Generation, Alumni/ae Relation, Geographical Residence, Volunteer Work, and Work Experience are labeled as “Considered.”
In the CDS, Columbia University only labels Extracurricular Activities and Character/Personal Qualities as “Very Important.” This means that your extracurricular activities must prove who you are as a person. Highlight the extracurriculars that actually made a difference in the world instead of just listing a bunch of clubs.
In your essay, focus your response on a clear strength that you worked towards. For example, you may have witnessed homelessness in your community, so you volunteered as a social media specialist for your local shelter.
In a recent webinar with Quad Education, Mary Banks, an expert consultant at Quad Education and a former admissions officer at Columbia University, explains how applicants can use their materials to craft the perfect application:
“Support your GPA, SAT, and letters of recommendation with stories that illustrate your curious nature and shine a light on how your leadership created positive change, and weave in what you learned when you dared to explore the person you want to be, the life you intend to live.”
Banks suggests that an applicant’s intellectual curiosity should directly link to real-world impact. Columbia University wants students who don't just think interesting thoughts, but who act on these thoughts to create positive change. That means don’t just list your extracurricular activities, but ensure they connect your intellectual curiosity with real-world impact.
Banks also suggests that extracurricular activities are evidence that supports academic achievements rather than separate accomplishments. Your volunteer work should help explain why you excelled in biology, not just exist as an unrelated good deed.
The ideal applicant at Columbia University:
Columbia University's admissions officers describe seeking dedication and integrity, kindness and inclusivity, leadership and collaboration, and your developing sense of voice and perspective. These terms should be demonstrated through concrete evidence in academics, extracurriculars, and essay writing.
In a webinar with Quad Education, Maisha Rahman, an admissions consultant at Quad Education and a former admissions officer at Columbia University, advised on what admissions officers are looking for in the ideal applicant:
“Columbia wants to see that you have great work ethic, that you care about making a difference … that you will be an important member of their future community.”
Rahman emphasizes that the ideal Columbia University applicant must demonstrate a care for making a difference not just in their own community, but in the future community at Columbia University.
Here are the application requirements to get into Columbia University.
Applications for Columbia University’s 2024-2025 admissions cycle are now closed. However, the 2025-2026 application will open around August 2025. Use this time to build or strengthen your extracurriculars, essays, and test performance to get a head start on your application.
Here are expert tips to help you improve your chances of getting into Columbia University.
You don’t need a perfect academic record, but your essay must show who you are now, not just what you’ve done. Use your essay to show what you care about, how you think, and what you’d contribute to Columbia University’s community.
In a YouTube video on Columbia University’s Undergraduate channel, Senior Admissions Officer at Columbia University, Afiya Wilson, highlighted that your essay is “the piece of the application that speaks for who you are at the time you hit submit.”
Wilson reinforces that you must continue revising your essay to reflect your voice, vulnerability, and authenticity to be a standout applicant. She emphasizes that the essay is the one part of your application that isn’t filtered through scores, transcripts, or recommendation letters. It’s your chance to speak directly to the admissions committee.
To ensure your essay hits the mark, it should clearly reflect your voice, values, and current perspective—what drives you, what you care about, and how you think. That means cutting the generic fluff and instead including honest, specific details that reveal who you are right now, not who you think they want you to be.
Columbia University looks for applicants who demonstrate a clear record of social impact, community engagement, and civic responsibility. Competitive candidates show a consistent commitment to contributing beyond the classroom.
To improve your chances of getting into Columbia, choose extracurricular activities that reflect your dedication to service, leadership, and equity. This could include organizing local initiatives, volunteering in underserved areas, leading student advocacy groups, or launching community-based projects.
Admissions officers want to see that you’ve identified real-world problems and taken meaningful steps to address them. When listing these activities on your application or discussing them in your essays, be specific about:
For example, leading a student-led campaign to improve mental health access, coordinating neighborhood clean-ups, or mentoring first-generation students all reflect Columbia’s mission to educate students who will become leaders in service to society.
Columbia University wants to know more about your character and personal qualities, evidenced by the label “Very Important” in the CDS. Think about the qualities that you want to display to the admissions committee and highlight them through your extracurricular activities.
Here’s what Banks had to say about structuring your essay:
"If life has somehow interfered with your education, try using the optional essay to explain the gap without too much color. For instance: “I let sports dominate my every waking hour for my sophomore year, and things fell apart. I spent some time with myself and adjusted my priorities, and the upward trajectory of my academic progress is evident. Reshaping who I am is something I will pursue at Columbia.”
Use the essay as your opportunity to demonstrate who you are beyond just numbers. Columbia University admits thousands of students each year who challenge themselves academically, but Columbia also admits thousands of students who can demonstrate their character/personal qualities effectively.
Columbia University values depth in extracurricular activities, but more importantly, admissions officers value introspection. Don’t just list what you did in the activities section of the Common Application. Explore why you pursued each activity, what you learned, how it changed you, and how that experience inspires your future goals.
Mention professors, courses, departments, research centers, or institutes that reflect your academic focus.
For example, if you’re interested in urban planning, talk about the Center for Spatial Research. If you want to pursue literature and film, reference the School of the Arts or Columbia’s journalistic legacy. Referencing specific Columbia programs proves you’ve done your research, and more importantly, that you belong in their ecosystem.
You should apply to Columbia University via Early Decision if it’s your first choice. If you need more time or want to apply to another college’s ED program, you should apply to Columbia University via Regular Decision.
Columbia University marks the interview as “Not Considered” in the application process. In May of 2023, Columbia University decided to remove the alumni interview program.
No, visiting Columbia University does not improve your admissions chances. Columbia University does not track demonstrated interest in the admissions process.
Columbia University is looking for thinkers, builders, leaders, and problem-solvers. With an acceptance rate under 5%, getting accepted means proving that you not only excel in the classroom but that you contribute with intellectual curiosity, meaningful impact, and a clear sense of purpose.
Our expert Columbia University admissions consulting services can help you craft the perfect application. Book a free consultation with a member of our team to get started today.
