UNIVERSITY · CDS 2022-2023
Columbia University
New York, NY 6,668 undergrad Updated 2026-04-22
Ivy+Core Curriculum
Accept
3.7%
Yield
64.9%
Test
Optional
Academic Profile · CDS C9 / C11
The numbers a parent will ask about first.
SAT Total (mid 50%, computed)
1500–1580
SAT EBRW (mid 50%)
730–780
SAT Math (mid 50%)
770–800
ACT Composite (mid 50%)
34–35
GPA
Not reported
GPA NOTE95.7% of enrolled first-year students were in the top tenth of their high school graduating class.
METHODTotal SAT range is computed by summing the reported EBRW and Math mid-50% ranges from the school’s CDS (Section C9). Use as an approximation — a student’s actual total places them within, not at, the summed endpoints.
Decision Plans · CDS C1 / C21
When and how the school reads applicants.
| Plan | Deadline | Accept rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ED | Nov 1 | 12.5% | ED: Nov 1, ~12.5% |
| RD | Jan 1 | 3.7% | RD: Jan 1, ~3.7% |
Cost & Aid · CDS H Series
What it costs and what families actually pay.
Tuition
$70,170
Total COA
$96,990
Avg need-based aid
$76,553
Avg merit award
None
Net price after avg need aid
$20,437
Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated need on average.
ImportantColumbia does not award non-need merit scholarships. All institutional aid is need-based. Use this honestly with families: a strong applicant here gets in, but the price is set by the FAFSA/CSS, not by stats.
AP Impact Calculator
What the student's APs are actually worth here.
Columbia's AP Policy
Students can earn a maximum of 16 points of credit earned through college-level coursework taken as part of a high school curriculum prior to matriculation at Columbia. Each year, individual departments review the College Board AP curriculum and determine appropriate placements, credit, and/or exemptions.
Min score
4
Credit cap
16 credits
Mode
Credit + placement
Per-score grid
Exam-level
Add the student's APs
No APs selected. Click Add AP exam to start, or use the sample profile to see what a strong student might recover.
What They Value · CDS C7
Every CDS factor, weighted exactly as the admissions office files it.
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery Important
- Class rankVery Important
- Academic GPAVery Important
- Standardized test scoresVery Important
- Application EssayVery Important
- RecommendationVery Important
Mission & Narrative
What this school says it is — in their own words.
Columbia University is one of the world’s most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty, staff, and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the University to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.
Distilled Themes
interdisciplinary researchglobal engagementservice to societyleadership development
The Coach's Read
What 'what they value' actually means at the table.
- 01Columbia seeks students who have challenged themselves academically and have demonstrated intellectual curiosity.
- 02They value students who have a strong sense of community and have made an impact in their extracurricular activities.
- 03They are looking for students who can articulate their interests and goals and how they will contribute to the Columbia community.
Application Targets
What a strong application here should signal.
- 01Demonstrated intellectual curiosity through research or independent projects.
- 02Meaningful and sustained extracurricular involvement.
- 03Strong essays that reveal your personality and voice.
- 04A clear understanding of how you will contribute to the Columbia community.
Quiet Disqualifiers
Things that hurt applicants here, even when they look fine on paper.
- Generic essays that could be sent to any top university
- Lack of demonstrated interest in Columbia's specific programs or resources
- A focus on grades and test scores without a corresponding passion for learning
Signature Programs
Where this school is genuinely best-in-class.
EconomicsPolitical ScienceComputer ScienceEngineeringEnglishHistory
Application calendar
Every date the family needs to know.
Deadlines & Decision Dates · 2025-2026
Family deadline matrix
Plan
Deadline
Decision release
Early Decision I
Binding
Decision release is in mid-December.
Nov 1, 2025
→ Dec 15, 2025
Regular Decision
Non-binding
Decision release is in late March.
Jan 1, 2026
→ Mar 31, 2026
Early Decision II
Not offered
—
Early Action
Not offered
—
Restrictive Early Action
Not offered
—
Rolling Admission
Not offered
—
See every school side-by-side on the Deadline Tracker →
CDS C7 · Level of applicant's interest
Does effort toward this school move the needle?
Demonstrated Interest·CDS C7 (2022-2023)
TrackedWeight: Considered
Columbia's official 2022-23 CDS states interest is 'Considered', but their admissions website says they do not track interest, creating a conflicting message.
Coach action
Focus on a strong application and essays; do not spend effort on interest signals as the official policy is conflicting and likely has minimal impact.
Provenance