Columbia University in the City of New York

www.columbia.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$59,450

2.74% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$12,411

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.937%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

4.13%

61,110 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

33,776

85.6% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

97.4%

1,403 Graduates

About

Columbia University in the City of New York is a higher education institution located in New York County, NY. In 2021, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Columbia University in the City of New York were Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods (1,402 degrees awarded), Computer Science (500 degrees), and General Computer & Information Sciences (489 degrees).

In 2021, 13,952 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Columbia University in the City of New York. 55.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 44.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,942 degrees), 2.41 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,639 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Columbia University in the City of New York is $59,450, which is $30,458 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

About the photo: Memorial Union from frozen Lake Mendota

Photo by Mike Steele

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Columbia University in the City of New York is $59,450, which is $30,458 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $12,411.

In 2021, 60% of undergraduate students attending Columbia University in the City of New York received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 17% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$59,450

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Columbia University in the City of New York was $59,450. The cost of tuition at Columbia University in the City of New York is $30,458 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Columbia University in the City of New York (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$12,411

2021 Value

43.9%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Columbia University in the City of New York had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,411. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Columbia University in the City of New York grew by 43.9%.

This chart compares the average net price of Columbia University in the City of New York (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$15,377

Room and Board

$1,318

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Columbia University in the City of New York was of $15,377 in 2021. The cost of room and board decreased by 5.21% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,318. The cost of books and supplies increased by 1.85% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Columbia University in the City of New York (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

60%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

17%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

60% of undergraduate students at Columbia University in the City of New York received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 1.69% with respect to 2020, when 59% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Columbia University in the City of New York (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.937%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Columbia University in the City of New York was 0.937%, which represents 35 out of the 3735 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Columbia University in the City of New York received 61,110 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 51% annual growth. Out of those 61,110 applicants, 2,524 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 4.13% acceptance rate.

There were 33,776 students enrolled at Columbia University in the City of New York in 2021. 43% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Columbia University in the City of New York has an overall enrollment yield of 65%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

4.13%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

2,524

Accepted Out of 61,110

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Columbia University in the City of New York was 4.13% (2,524 admissions from 61,110 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 6.66%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 51%, while admissions declined by −6.35%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Columbia University in the City of New York (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

43%

Submission Percentage (2021)

704

Scores Submitted (2021)

43% of enrolled first-time students at Columbia University in the City of New York in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Columbia University in the City of New York had a total enrollment of 33,776 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Columbia University in the City of New York is 28,922 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,854. This means that 85.6% of students enrolled at Columbia University in the City of New York are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Columbia University in the City of New York, both undergraduate and graduate, is 28.7% White, 13.2% Asian, 8.44% Hispanic or Latino, 5.21% Black or African American, 3.12% Two or More Races, 0.16% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.077% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Columbia University in the City of New York in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (16.1%), followed by White Female (14%) and Asian Female (9.42%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (14.5%), followed by White Male (11.3%) and Asian Female (6.48%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

85.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Columbia University in the City of New York in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 33,776 students. The full-time enrollment at Columbia University in the City of New York is 28,922 and the part-time enrollment is 4,854. This means that 85.6% of students enrolled at Columbia University in the City of New York are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Columbia University in the City of New York (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

99%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Columbia University in the City of New York was 99%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Columbia University in the City of New York had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Columbia University in the City of New York (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
9,693 enrolled students
Asian
4,452 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,850 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Columbia University in the City of New York is 28.7% White, 13.2% Asian, 8.44% Hispanic or Latino, 5.21% Black or African American, 3.12% Two or More Races, 0.16% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.077% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,382 students (4.09%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 1,542 more women than men received degrees from Columbia University in the City of New York. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Columbia University in the City of New York is white (3,942 degrees awarded). There were 2.41 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1639 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Columbia University in the City of New York is Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods (1,402 degrees awarded), followed by Computer Science (500 degrees) and General Computer & Information Sciences (489 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Columbia University in the City of New York, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Math & Statistics (837 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (166 degrees), and Legal (565 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Social workers, all other

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Columbia University in the City of New York are Social workers, all other (147,255 people), Architects, except landscape and naval (96,882 people), Other managers (84,110 people), Postsecondary teachers (66,834 people), and Elementary & middle school teachers (64,516 people).

The most specialized majors at Columbia University in the City of New York in 2021 are Math & Statistics (837 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (166 degrees), Legal (565 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (150 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (876 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Media and communication workers, all other

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Columbia University in the City of New York are Media and communication workers, all other, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Surgeons, Physicians, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at Columbia University in the City of New York are Math & Statistics (837 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (166 degrees), Legal (565 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (150 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (876 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Columbia University in the City of New York are Elementary & secondary schools (189,458 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (144,625 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (126,407 people), Individual & family services (100,547 people), and Computer Systems Design (83,031 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Columbia University in the City of New York.

Most Common (2021)

Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods
1,402 degree-majors awarded
Computer Science
500 degree-majors awarded
General Computer & Information Sciences
489 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common masters degree concentration at Columbia University in the City of New York was Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods with 1,402 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from masters degree programs at Columbia University in the City of New York according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

6,205

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

7,747

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 6,205 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia University in the City of New York, which is 0.801 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (7,747).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Columbia University in the City of New York by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 782 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia University in the City of New York in Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods, which is 1.25 times more than the 628 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 628 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia University in the City of New York in Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods, which is 0.803 times less than the 782 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

86%

100% Completion Time

95%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 86% of students graduating from Columbia University in the City of New York completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 95% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 96% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Columbia University in the City of New York is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.92% of graduates (41 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
3,942 degrees awarded
Asian
1,639 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,000 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Columbia University in the City of New York is white (3,942 degrees awarded). There were 2.41 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1639 degrees).

5.28% of degree recipients (736 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
2,167 degrees awarded
White Male
1,775 degrees awarded
Asian Female
986 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Columbia University in the City of New York is white female (2,167 degrees awarded). There were 1.22 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1775 degrees).

Operations

Columbia University in the City of New York has an endowment valued at nearly $14.3B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 3.46B (24.1%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Columbia University in the City of New York had a total salary expenditure of 5.04B. Columbia University in the City of New York employs 814 Professors, 387 Lecturers and 225 Associate professors. Most academics at Columbia University in the City of New York are Male Professor (581), Female Professor (233), and Female Lecturer (204).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Columbia University in the City of New York are: Management, with 2,313 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 1,342 employees, and Research with 1,171 employees.

Endowment

$14.3B

2021 Endowment

27.5%

growth from 2020

Columbia University in the City of New York has an endowment valued at about $14.3B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Columbia University in the City of New York grew 27.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $14B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Columbia University in the City of New York (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$1.08B - Federal
$7.82M - State
$1.17M - Local

As of 2021, Columbia University in the City of New York received $1.08B in grants and contracts from the federal government, $7.82M from state grants and contracts, and $1.17M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$2.44B

2021 Salaries

0.364%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Columbia University in the City of New York paid a median of $2.44B in salaries, which represents 48.4% of their overall expenditure ($5.04B) and a 0.364% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$295M

Instructional Salaries

1,642

Number of Employees

In 2021, Columbia University in the City of New York paid a total of $295M to 1,642 employees working as instructors, which represents 12.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

814 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

2,313 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Columbia University in the City of New York were Professor with 814 employees, Lecturer with 387 employees, and Associate professor with 225 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Columbia University in the City of New York were Management with 2,313 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 1,342 employees, and Research with 1,171 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Lecturer

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Columbia University in the City of New York was Male Professor with 581 employees, Female Professor with 233 employees, and Female Lecturer with 204 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Columbia University in the City of New York.