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New York , NY
Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) is an educational division within Columbia University that is dedicated exclusively to non-traditional undergraduate students. Founded in 1947, GS provides a unique educational experience tailored to accommodate students who have had a break in their education, have various life experiences, or have pursued unconventional paths prior to seeking a college degree. GS offers a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, granting Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, and strives to foster a diverse and inclusive academic environment.
The School of General Studies at Columbia University welcomes a diverse range of students, with an average age of around 27. GS students come from a variety of backgrounds, including military veterans, single parents, international students, and those who have experienced career changes. The school aims to provide a supportive environment for these students, offering extensive resources such as academic advising, career counseling, and internship opportunities to help them successfully navigate their academic journey and transition into meaningful careers.
With a faculty comprised of esteemed scholars, writers, and experts in their respective fields, GS students have access to a broad range of academic disciplines and courses. They have the opportunity to study alongside undergraduates from Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, enriching their educational experience. GS also offers unique programs such as the Joint Dual Degree Program with Sciences Po in France and the Post-baccalaureate Premedical Program, which prepares students for medical school.
In conclusion, Columbia University School of General Studies caters to non-traditional students by providing a supportive and inclusive learning community. With its prestigious faculty, diverse student body, and comprehensive resources, it offers a rigorous liberal arts education to students from various backgrounds who wish to pursue their academic and career goals. GS aims to facilitate a transformative educational experience that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities necessary for success in their chosen fields.
Columbia University is a private university located in New York, NY and set in an urban environment. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. Given an acceptance rate of only 3%, admissions is consider very competative. The freshman retention rate at Columbia University is 98% and the six-year graduation rate is 96%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 1. The transfer application deadline is March 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about Columbia University.
Quick Facts
9,164
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$70,170
Tuition
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
96%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Here are the most important data you need to know about admission at Columbia University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,325 in 2025. Columbia University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Columbia University provides a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 44% and ACT scores 17%. 99% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 1% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 100 and 0.41 between 24-29.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 757 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 779.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is January 1. When filling out the application as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Columbia University was 98% in 2025, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 96%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best fit for you is not a simple task. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 35,173 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 80. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 9,164, 1077 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 298 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 12,914 male and 15,743 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 1,429 Asian students and 535 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,110 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 468 as multirace. The school also had 14 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 22 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 199 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $70,170 in 2025. Columbia University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $3,280 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant expense. Most students have to allocate about $1,282 for books and supplies during their time at Columbia University.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At Columbia University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $20,322. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school came to $13,222, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $13,222.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 70,170 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,322 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,282 |
| Total Expense | $ 91,774 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for a number of students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Columbia University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 734 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $77,163.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 3,234 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Columbia University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 3,260. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $11,750,753, and state $1,965,604. The students of Columbia University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $220,849,856, and external in the amount of $4,248,646.
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
205 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 67 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $11,750,753 while the state aid is $411,376. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,023,486 USD.
Majors
Faculty
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Columbia University was 6:1: that means 6 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 3,264. This number included 1,892 male and 1,367 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some information about social life at Columbia University.
It has a campus size of 36 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to the most recent information, there are 500 open-membership organizations at Columbia University. This number includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 9% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 13 for female students. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Publications, followed by Athletics and Performing Arts. Other popular organizations at Columbia University are Cultural Organization and Community Service.
Students interested in music can join the Columbia University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Columbia University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Columbia University provides a number of services needed for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Columbia University.
All in all, campus life at Columbia University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Columbia University.
Career Counselling
At Columbia University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 87,889 USD.
$87,889
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Columbia University is located in New York, NY.
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Columbia University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Columbia University is 70,170 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Columbia University is 3%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Columbia University is 98%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
