Columbia University, located in the City of New York is considered the most diverse school in the Ivy League. New York is the place to be for students wanting to pursue a career in the finance, entertainment, media, and publishing industries. Unlimited opportunities are also found in real estate, IT, and healthcare.
Needless to say, Columbia boasts of world-class faculty, scholars, industry experts, and researchers. Students can soak in the university’s intellectual vibrancy and rich culture. Hence year after year, the application numbers to this reputed university are rising.
Changing trends
In the 2023-24 admission cycle, Columbia offered 2,319 students admission to the class of 2028 from a pool of 60,248 applicants for both Early and Regular decisions; the highest in the history of Columbia, according to their website. The acceptance rate, however, was menacingly low at 3.9 %. This percentage did not change from the previous year when Columbia received 57,129 applications and admitted only 2,246 students. In contrast the admissions rates for the Class of ’26 and ’25 (2.96% and 2.90%).
Ever since Columbia dropped the requirement of submitting test scores– a decision taken during the pandemic, the applicant pool has witnessed a considerable jump from 40,084 (for the Class of 2024), to 60,551 (for the Class of 2025), a 51% increase in the span of one admission cycle. The number of applications received by the university for RD was 54,239 and only 1598 students for the class of 2028. This is indicative of the fact that RD admission rates are not showing any change. A comprehensive analysis of Columbia’s class of 2028 | Ivy Central
Geographical Diversity
The enrolled student population at Columbia University in the City of New York, both undergraduate and graduate, is 25.9% White, 13.1% Asian, 8.53% Hispanic or Latino, 5.11% Black or African American, 3.31% Two or More Races, 0.158% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0719% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific. Columbia Class of 2028 Profile
Standardized testing
Columbia University admits students who can perform well in their rigorous curriculum. Columbia conducted an internal study to assess the strength of the classes that were admitted during the test-optional years (2020-2021), due to the pandemic. Although it was introduced provisionally, the admitted cohort demonstrated exceptional performance in their first-year exams. The university has therefore not made submitting Test scores mandatory in keeping with their institutional policy. They continue to review applications considering individuals’ circumstances presented in the application. Hence the discretion of providing or not reporting the score is with the student. Testing Policy | Columbia Undergraduate Admissions
A diverse student body
In line with the Supreme Court ruling of last year(2023), the students admitted into the Class of 2028 were evaluated in a race-neutral process. Women accounted for 51% and men 47% and 2% of binary. 17% of international students were admitted. Columbia continues to enroll students who come from diverse backgrounds, showcasing their intrinsic commitment to diversity. Columbia Class of 2028 Profile
Increased competitiveness
With acceptance rates consistently declining, admission to Columbia remains highly competitive and marks a significant challenge for applicants. The pool of applicants demonstrates intellectual vitality demonstrating a holistic appeal while being academically the brightest. Columbia assesses each application holistically based on the entirety of its “substance and context.” This highlights the exceptional caliber of students who succeed in gaining admission – they demonstrate academic excellence, a diverse range of talents, and the potential to make significant contributions to the Columbia community.
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