Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York. 8,973 undergraduates. Admits 4% of applicants.

95%Graduation rate41 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$15,370Average net price per year23% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$109,430Median earnings 10 years after starting86% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$20,500Median debt at graduation5% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($20,500) equals 19% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($109,430). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$2,275
$30,000–$48,000$4,020
$48,001–$75,000$4,878
$75,001–$110,000$8,881
Over $110,000$40,931

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $74,180.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate95%54%
Return for second year98%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$87,082$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$109,430$58,912
Median debt at graduation$20,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

302 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations49$85,220$272,858—
Computer Science403$180,031$217,418—
Operations Research326—$201,081—
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences9$236,233$191,884—
Biotechnology24—$191,085—
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology131$120,402$187,912—
Mechanical Engineering144$107,343$163,394—
Real Estate Development108$122,218$162,642—
Statistics438$100,892$160,904—
Computer and Information Sciences, General739$133,400$155,971—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management89$151,659——
Health and Medical Administrative Services92$96,229$147,580—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing307$130,699$144,427—
Communication and Media Studies58$93,048$142,835—
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods1,677$215,957$137,329—
Sustainability Studies273$93,339$135,675—
Chemical Engineering122—$132,417—
Construction Management25$114,495$127,978—
Public Administration409$94,158$126,965—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering224$126,706——
Human Resources Management and Services48$126,350——
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness64$88,778$123,200—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research55$75,506$119,836—
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology183$82,308$118,306—
International Relations and National Security Studies266$88,603$116,957—
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities47$64,839$112,991—
Civil Engineering127$83,275$112,611—
Public Health350$77,407$104,593—
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning58$85,714$102,362—
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies337$101,570——
Biomedical/Medical Engineering143$94,670——
Dispute Resolution29—$94,249—
Area Studies51$62,498$93,488—
Social Sciences, Other42$70,973$91,720—
Political Science and Government49$58,969$89,962—
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions53$82,307$88,045—
Architectural Sciences and Technology259$71,907$84,449—
Journalism230$61,586$84,415—
Historic Preservation and Conservation26—$81,803—
Architecture0—$81,101—
Social Work546$64,626$78,522—
Nutrition Sciences88$51,966$74,076—
History61—$72,148—
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies114$48,535$64,523—
Film/Video and Photographic Arts99$37,896$51,689—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft69$46,694$46,956—
Visual and Performing Arts, Other28$29,411——
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation7———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies2———
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication17———
Computer Software and Media Applications13———
Education, Other6———
Computer Engineering36———
Engineering Physics28———
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering52———
Industrial Engineering114———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics22———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics9———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics20———
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics8———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics3———
English Language and Literature, General28———
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities2———
Biology, General33———
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences23———
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology2———
Genetics6———
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences11———
Pharmacology and Toxicology1———
Neurobiology and Neurosciences14———
Mathematics7———
Applied Mathematics56———
Climate Science76———
Data Science203———
Data Analytics184———
Philosophy19———
Religion/Religious Studies16———
Astronomy and Astrophysics4———
Chemistry5———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences17———
Physics15———
Materials Sciences17———
Physical Sciences, Other4———
Research and Experimental Psychology7———
Social Sciences, General185———
Anthropology31———
Economics164———
Sociology18———
Visual and Performing Arts, General3———
Fine and Studio Arts22———
Music10———
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions12———
Finance and Financial Management Services27———
Insurance17———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

4%Admission rate
1,553Average SAT of admitted students
34–35ACT middle 50%
6:1Students per faculty member
25%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Columbia University in the City of New York cost per year?
The average net price at Columbia University in the City of New York, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $15,370 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Columbia University in the City of New York graduates earn?
Former Columbia University in the City of New York students earn a median of $109,430 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia University in the City of New York?
95% of Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Columbia University in the City of New York is $20,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.