Columbia: What the Numbers Actually Say
Columbia is among the two hardest admits profiled on this site, and the rest of its numbers are quieter than that one. A family earning under $30,000 pays about $4,600 a year. Students who arrive from the lowest-income third of families are earning six figures a decade after they start. And more of its undergraduates come from outside the United States than at any other Ivy — on the international measure, the campus on 116th Street stands alone in its league.
Columbia admitted 3.9% of 60,247 applicants — the second-lowest acceptance rate profiled here, behind only Stanford. The net price after aid is $21,590, and students from the lowest-income third of families are earning a mean $113,500 ten years after entry.
At a glance
| Columbia in the City of New York | US median | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | NY, NY | |
| Undergraduates | 9,164 | |
| Acceptance rate | 3.9% | |
| Applicants / admits | 60,247 / 2,325 | |
| Middle 50% SAT | 1510–1580 | |
| Middle 50% ACT | 34–36 | |
| Student–faculty ratio | 6:1 | |
| Average net price after aid | $21,590 | $20,150 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $102,491 | $53,038 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 | $23,000 |
US medians are across every college reporting the figure to the College Scorecard — roughly 1,700 for net price and 1,800 for earnings.
Admissions: what Columbia says it weighs
Columbia drew 60,247 applications and admitted 2,325 — 3.9% — with 63.7% of admits enrolling. The early round is binding Early Decision.
| Application factor | Columbia in the City of New York says | How common that is |
|---|---|---|
| Academic GPA | Very important | 91% of schools say the same |
| Application Essay | Very important | 34% of schools say the same |
| Character/personal qualities | Very important | 27% of schools say the same |
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | only 19% of schools say the same |
| Recommendation(s) | Very important | 32% of schools say the same |
| Rigor of secondary school record | Very important | 87% of schools say the same |
| Standardized test scores | Very important | 26% of schools say the same |
| Talent/ability | Very important | only 15% of schools say the same |
| Class rank | Important | 46% of schools say the same |
| Alumni/ae relation | Considered | 40% of schools say the same |
| First generation | Considered | 66% of schools say the same |
| Geographical residence | Considered | 34% of schools say the same |
| Interview | Considered | 42% of schools say the same |
| Level of applicant's interest | Considered | 46% of schools say the same |
| Volunteer work | Considered | 66% of schools say the same |
| Work experience | Considered | 69% of schools say the same |
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Not considered | 89% of schools say the same |
| State residency | Not considered | 57% of schools say the same |
The school’s own ratings from its Common Data Set filing, set against the 357 filings in our dataset. Bold rows are ratings fewer than a quarter of schools share — the places this school’s process is genuinely unusual. Declared weight is not submission policy; requirements change year to year and should be checked directly.
The filing is close to the elite consensus — talent and extracurriculars at the top of the scale, both minority ratings nationally — with one practical note: demonstrated interest is not considered, so visits and emails spend energy the essay should get. The application itself is the whole conversation.
The admitted middle 50% runs 740–780 on SAT reading and 770–800 on maths, with 44% of enrolled first-years having submitted an SAT score — a share that describes the class, not the current submission rules.
Cost
The sticker is about $94,142; the average net price after grants is $21,590. Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated need with an average first-year grant of $76,553 — among the largest anywhere — and only 16% of students borrow.
| Family income | Columbia in the City of New York | US median |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $4,570 / year | $15,238 |
| $30,000 – $48,000 | $2,275 / year | $15,431 |
| $48,000 – $75,000 | $5,866 / year | $17,510 |
| $75,000 – $110,000 | $11,782 / year | $21,308 |
| Over $110,000 | $50,621 / year | $25,893 |
Average net price actually paid by aided US students at each income level, from the College Scorecard. Sticker price is what almost nobody at these income levels pays.
The under-$30,000 row is the one to hold onto: about $4,570 a year. The debt figure runs against the grain, though — the median borrower graduates owing $21,500, among the highest of the schools profiled here.
Outcomes
Median earnings, 10 years after entry · US median $53,038
Earnings of students from the lowest-income third · US median $42,600
Average net price after aid · US median $20,150
Median debt at graduation · US median $23,000
Bar length is the share of US colleges this school beats on each measure; the tick marks the national median. Price and debt are inverted, so a longer bar is always the better outcome. Source: College Scorecard.
Median earnings reach $102,491 ten years after enrolling, and students from the lowest-income third of families are earning a mean $113,500 a decade after they started. 98% of first-years return and 96% graduate within six years.
The campus profile: 9,164 undergraduates on a 6:1 student–faculty ratio — among the lowest anywhere — with 16.9% of first-years arriving from outside the US — the highest international share of any Ivy League school.
Frequently asked questions
What is Columbia’s acceptance rate?
3.9% — the second-lowest profiled on this site, a hair behind Stanford. Columbia received 60,247 applications and admitted 2,325 students in its 2024–25 Common Data Set filing, its most recent.
How much does Columbia actually cost?
An average $21,590 a year after grants. A family earning under $30,000 pays about $4,570; from $75,000 to $110,000, about $11,782. Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated need.
Does Columbia consider demonstrated interest?
No — its filing lists an applicant’s level of interest as not considered. Campus visits and contact have no effect on the file; the essay, record and recommendations carry it.
What SAT scores do you need for Columbia?
The admitted middle 50% scored 740–780 on reading and 770–800 on maths. 44% of enrolled first-years submitted a score; a quarter of admits scored below those ranges.
Is Columbia good for international students?
By enrolment, the most international of the Ivy League schools — 16.9% of first-years come from outside the US. International aid exists but differs from domestic need-based aid; check Columbia’s own international aid terms.
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