Chances of getting into Columbia University in the City of New York
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into Columbia and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at Columbia is 7%. It ranks #1 in New York and #8 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Columbia is extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Last year, 2,695 out of 40,462 applicants were admitted.
The school has exceptionally high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent (SAT 1460/1570 ACT 33/35). Columbia University in the City of New York typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.91. Of those applicants who were admitted, 56% enrolled. With over half of admitted students enrolling, acceptance by Columbia University in the City of New York is a prized outcome for many students.
The Columbia application fee is $85 and applications are due by Jan 1.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. Columbia University in the City of New York is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to confirm the most up to date testing requirements.
Columbia SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 720 |
| SAT Math 25th | 740 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1460 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 770 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1570 |
| Average SAT Score | 1520
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Columbia University in the City of New York?
Columbia University in the City of New York typically prefers applicants to be in the top 2 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1460 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1400. The average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1520 out of 1600. Columbia ranks #1 in New York and #11 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. 59 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
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Columbia ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 34 |
| ACT Math 25th | 31 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 33 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 36 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 34
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Columbia?
Admission data indicates that Columbia regularly accepts students with ACT's of 33 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 2 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 32 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 34 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #1 in New York and #12 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 51 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Columbia University in the City of New York.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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Columbia GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into Columbia University in the City of New York?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into Columbia. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Columbia University in the City of New York was 3.91 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #3 in New York for highest average GPA. Given the school's very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Columbia extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 3.91 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 3.91 GPA.
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*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply employs an artificial intelligence (AI) process to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of other colleges' data. 3.91 is an estimate of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
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Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 21,974 | 18,488 | 40,462 |
| Accepted | 1,419 | 1,276 | 2,695 |
| Acceptance Rate | 6% | 7% | 7% |
| Enrolled | 794 | 727 | 1,521 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 56% | 57% | 56% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Days left to Apply
Applicants have 23 days left until the Fall 2022 term applications are due on Jan 1, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Columbia University in the City of New York is $85.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Columbia University in the City of New York and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=190150 IPEDS survey data for Columbia University in the City of New York.
FAQs
Does Columbia University in the City of New York prefer SAT or ACT?
59% of students submit their SAT scores to Columbia. 51% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Columbia University in the City of New York?
7% of those who apply are granted admission to Columbia. Admission competition is extreme and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Columbia University in the City of New York?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1460 and 1570. 59% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Columbia University in the City of New York?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 33 and 35. 51% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.