Columbia University in the City of New York Acceptance Rate
New York, New York · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 57,613
- Admitted
- 2,439
- Yield
- 63.1%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate has fallen from 6.9% in 2014–15 to 4.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 32,967 to 57,613 (+75%) over that period.
Its 4.2% rate makes Columbia University in the City of New York more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 119 tracked New York schools, it is more selective than about 98%.
Columbia University in the City of New York has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 63.1% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 32,967 | 2,291 | 6.9% | 1,424 |
| 2015–16 | 36,911 | 2,438 | 6.6% | 1,527 |
| 2016–17 | 37,009 | 2,526 | 6.8% | 1,567 |
| 2017–18 | 38,118 | 2,519 | 6.6% | 1,547 |
| 2018–19 | 40,572 | 2,399 | 5.9% | 1,488 |
| 2019–20 | 42,823 | 2,332 | 5.4% | 1,465 |
| 2020–21 | 40,462 | 2,695 | 6.7% | 1,521 |
| 2021–22 | 61,110 | 2,524 | 4.1% | 1,641 |
| 2022–23 | 60,879 | 2,404 | 3.9% | 1,540 |
| 2023–24 | 57,613 | 2,439 | 4.2% | 1,540 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 32,452 | 1,210 | 3.7% |
| Men | 23,972 | 1,174 | 4.9% |
| Another gender | 1,189 | 55 | 4.6% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 730–770 | 40% |
| SAT Math | 760–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–35 | 21% |
How Columbia University in compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate?
Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate is 4.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,439 admitted of 57,613 applicants).
Is Columbia University in the City of New York test optional?
Columbia University in the City of New York is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Columbia University in the City of New York?
Columbia University in the City of New York received 57,613 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,439.
What SAT score do you need for Columbia University in the City of New York?
Admitted students at Columbia University in the City of New York typically scored 730–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 760–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Columbia University in the City of New York getting harder to get into?
Columbia University in the City of New York has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 6.9% in 2014–15 to 4.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.columbia.edu/.