Columbia University

Overview

Columbia's main campus is in Morningside Heights on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. First-year applicants choose between two undergraduate schools: Columbia College, for the liberal arts and sciences, and Columbia Engineering. Both share the Core Curriculum, a set of common courses in literature, philosophy, art, music, writing and science that students take in small seminars. If you want a free choice of courses from day one, the Core is worth weighing carefully; if you enjoy discussion-based reading, it is a major draw.

How to apply for 2026-27

Columbia accepts the Common Application or the Coalition Application, and QuestBridge finalists may use the QuestBridge Application.

Early Decision is binding: if admitted with an aid package you can accept, you withdraw other applications. Canadian families should run the numbers before choosing it, because need-aware review applies to international students.

Testing policy

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering remain test optional for the 2026-27 admission cycle. In an update published June 12, 2026, Columbia said it will return to required testing for all first-year and transfer applicants starting with the 2027-28 cycle, meaning students seeking to enrol in fall 2028 must submit SAT or ACT scores. Applicants who have difficulty meeting the requirement can request a waiver.

Financial aid for international students

Columbia's aid office says it evaluates US citizens and eligible noncitizens without regard to financial need, and undocumented students living in the US are also reviewed need-blind. International applicants, including Canadians, must apply for and demonstrate financial need at the time of admission, and need is considered in that review. Columbia says it meets 100 percent of demonstrated need, and aid continues for four years.

Choosing between Columbia College and Columbia Engineering

You indicate your school on the application, and the two have different expectations. Columbia Engineering applicants should show strong calculus and physics preparation, while Columbia College applicants can range across the humanities, social sciences and sciences. Both groups take parts of the Core, so expect reading in philosophy and literature even if you plan to study engineering. Columbia's supplemental questions change from year to year, so read the current prompts in August before you start drafting. Internal transfers between the two schools are possible but not automatic, so choose the school that matches your actual plans.

Life in New York and study tips

Columbia is an urban campus, and much of student life happens in the city. The Core's reading load is heavy from the first week, so steady reading habits matter more than last-minute effort. Our critical reading deck and the first-year university article help with that adjustment. For a broad comparison of US options, see the StudyBrix United States guide.