Columbia University in the City of New York

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2017 Undergraduate Tuition

$48,989

3.26% growth from 2016

2017 Average Net Price

$22,824

After Financial Aid

2016 Student Loan

1.84%

Default Rate

2017 Acceptance Rate

6.4%

37,673 Applicants

2017 Enrolled Students

30,404

83.5% Full-Time

2017 Graduation Rate

95.1%

1,292 Graduates

About

Columbia University in the City of New York is a higher education institution located in New York County, NY. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Columbia University in the City of New York were General Economics (253 degrees awarded), Computer Science (207 degrees), and General Political Science & Government (205 degrees).

In 2017, 12,772 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Columbia University in the City of New York. 52.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 47.2% awarded men. The majority of degree recipients were white (3,992 degrees), 2.68 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1491 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Columbia University in the City of New York is $48,989, which is $22,489 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

About the photo: Memorial Union from frozen Lake Mendota

Photo by Mike Steele

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Columbia University in the City of New York is $48,989, which is $22,489 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $22,824.

In 2017, 58% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 23% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$48,989

2017 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2017, the cost of tuition at Columbia University in the City of New York was $48,989. The cost of tuition at Columbia University in the City of New York is $22,489 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

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

$22,824

2017 Value

0.649%

1 Year Growth

In 2017 Columbia University in the City of New York had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $22,824. Between 2016 and 2017, the average net price of Columbia University in the City of New York grew by 0.649%.

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

$15,127

Room and Board

$1,400

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Columbia University in the City of New York was of $15,127 in 2017. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,400. The cost of room and board increased by 1.9% between 2016 and 2017. The cost of books and supplies increased by 16.7% 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

Financial Aid by Income Level

58%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

23%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

58% of undergraduate students at Columbia University in the City of New York received grants or loans in 2017. This represents a growth of 28.9% with respect to 2016, when 45% 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.

1.84%

2016 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2016 the default rate for borrower's at Columbia University in the City of New York was 1.84%, which represents 72 out of the 3909 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 37,673 undergraduate applications in 2017, which represents a 1.79% annual growth. Out of those 37,673 applicants, 2,410 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 6.4% acceptance rate.

There were 30,404 students enrolled at Columbia University in the City of New York in 2017, and 59% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Columbia University in the City of New York has an overall enrollment yield of 61.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

6.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2017

2,410

Accepted Out of 37,673

In 2017, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Columbia University in the City of New York was 6.4% (2,410 admissions from 37,673 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2016, which was 6.83%. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of applicants grew by 1.79%, while admissions declined by -4.59%.

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

SAT Scores

59%

Submission Percentage

828

Scores Submitted

59% of enrolled first-time students at Columbia University in the City of New York in 2017 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 has a total enrollment of 30,404 students. The full-time enrollment at Columbia University in the City of New York is 25,374 students and the part-time enrollment is 5,030. This means that 83.5% 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 31.9% White, 12.2% Asian, 7.76% Hispanic or Latino, 5.22% Black or African American, 2.73% Two or More Races, 0.21% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0789% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Columbia University in the City of New York in full-time Undergraduate programs are majority White Male (21.1%), followed by White Female (14.7%) and Asian Female (9.51%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are majority White Female (16.3%), followed by White Male (14%) and Asian Female (5.66%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

83.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Columbia University in the City of New York, both undergraduate and graduate, is 30,404 students. The full-time enrollment at Columbia University in the City of New York is 25,374 and the part-time enrollment is 5,030. This means that 83.5% of students enrolled at Columbia University in the City of New York are enrolled full-time compared with 78% 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

97%

2017 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 97%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (83%), 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

White
9,707
Asian
3,703
Hispanic or Latino
2,359

The enrolled student population at Columbia University in the City of New York is 31.9% White, 12.2% Asian, 7.76% Hispanic or Latino, 5.22% Black or African American, 2.73% Two or More Races, 0.21% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0789% 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 51.5% White, 13.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.57% 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, 1,467 students (4.83%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2017, 712 more women than men received degrees from Columbia University in the City of New York. The majority of degree recipients at Columbia University in the City of New York are white (3,992 degrees awarded). There were 2.68 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1491 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Columbia University in the City of New York is General Economics (253 degrees awarded), followed by Computer Science (207 degrees) and General Political Science & Government (205 degrees).

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 Architecture and Related Services (462 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (655 degrees), and Legal (751 degrees).

Workforce

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 (158,756 people), Architects, except landscape and naval (86,055 people), Other managers (81,664 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (81,653 people), and Postsecondary teachers (63,705 people).

The most specialized majors at Columbia University in the City of New York are Architecture and Related Services (462 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (655 degrees), Legal (751 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (909 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (124 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Chemists & materials scientists

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 Chemists & materials scientists, Dentists, Sales managers, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Aircraft pilots & flight engineers

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 (183,637 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (142,909 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (120,765 people), Individual & family services (92,294 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (80,151 people).

Degrees

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

General Economics
253 degree-majorss awarded
Computer Science
207 degree-majorss awarded
General Political Science & Government
205 degree-majorss awarded

In 2017, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Columbia University in the City of New York was General Economics with 253 degree-majorss awarded.

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

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

6,030
6,742

In 2017, 6,030 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia University in the City of New York, which is 0.894 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (6,742).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2017, 808 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia University in the City of New York in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.8 times more than the 449 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2017, 449 degrees were awarded to women at Columbia University in the City of New York in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.556 times less than the 808 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

89%

100% Completion Time

96%

150% Completion Time

In 2017, 89% 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, 96% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 97% 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.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Two or More Races Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Columbia University in the City of New York is Male and Two or More Races (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (68.1%).

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, 4.41% of graduates (57 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
3,992 degrees awarded
Asian
1,491 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
852 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Columbia University in the City of New York is white (3,992 degrees awarded). There were 2.68 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1491 degrees).

5.7% of degree recipients (728 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Female
2,129 degrees awarded
White Male
1,863 degrees awarded
Asian Female
852 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Columbia University in the City of New York is white female (2,129 degrees awarded). There were 1.14 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,863 degrees).

Operations

Columbia University in the City of New York has an endowment valued at nearly $10B, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $1.24B (12.4%), compared to the 5.91% average return ($16.9M on $287M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2017, Columbia University in the City of New York had a total salary expenditure of $4.38B. Columbia University in the City of New York employs 799 Professors, 330 Lecturers, and 224 Assistant professors. Most academics at Columbia University in the City of New York are Male Professors (595), Female Professors(204), and Female Lecturers (188).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Columbia University in the City of New York are: Management, with 1651 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 1137 employees, and Service with 1052 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$10B

2017 Endowment

10.6%

growth from 2016

Columbia University in the City of New York has an endowment valued at about $10B, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The endowment of Columbia University in the City of New York grew 10.6% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $9.71B 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

$884M - Federal
$6.74M - State
$514k - Local

As of 2017, Columbia University in the City of New York received $884M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $6.74M from state grants and contracts, and $514k from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$2.03B

2017 Salaries

6.18%

growth from 2016

In 2017, Columbia University in the City of New York paid a median of $2.03B in salaries, which represents 46.3% of their overall expenditure ($4.38B) and a 6.18% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 1.67% growth from 2015 and a 5.79% growth from 2014.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 215M (42.7% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$262M

Instructional Salaries

1,555

Number of Employees

In 2017, Columbia University in the City of New York paid a total of $262M to 1,555 employees working as instructors, which represents 12.9% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $64.9M (30.2%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

799 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1651 Employees

In 2017, the most common positions for instructional staff at Columbia University in the City of New York were Professor with 799 employees; Lecturer with 330 employees; and Lecturer with 224 employees.

In 2017, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Columbia University in the City of New York were Management with 1,651 employees; Office and Administrative Support with 1,137 employees; and Service with 1,052 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Lecturer

In 2017, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Columbia University in the City of New York was Male Professor with 595 employees, Female Professor with 204 employees, and Female Lecturer with 188 employees.

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

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