Columbia University acceptance rate and admissions profile
Columbia University is a private university in New York with a 4% acceptance rate, which makes it most selective. Here is what it looks for, where it sits among New York schools, and how to estimate your own odds with CollegeCalcAI.
What Columbia University looks for
What Columbia University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, modeled from its selectivity and profile.
SAT score positioning at Columbia University
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How Columbia University compares in New York
Columbia University ranks #1 most selective of 59 schools in New York in our database.
Similar to Columbia University
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into Columbia University?
Columbia University has a 4% acceptance rate, which makes it most selective — it admits roughly one in ten applicants or fewer. Admission depends on how your full profile compares to its admitted students, not on scores alone.
What SAT score do you need for Columbia University?
There is no hard cutoff, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1560. A score at or above the admitted range strengthens your application; CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds.
What does Columbia University value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, Columbia University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic gpa, application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
What are my chances of getting into Columbia University?
Your chances depend on your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities together. Use the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance estimate for Columbia University in a few minutes, no account required.
Want the deeper guide? Read our full Columbia University chances guide →
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.