collageSo, you’re thinking about applying to Columbia, and you’re curious about your chances of admission. Of course, there are a lot of factors in the admissions process. However, the most important factors in the admissions game are your GPA and test scores.
[acceptance school=”Columbia University in the City of New York” act_a=”32″ act_b=”34″ act_c=”35″ sat_a=”700″ sat_b=”745″ sat_c=”790″ sat_d=”690″ sat_e=”740″ sat_f=”790″ sat_g=”710″ sat_h=”755″ sat_i=”800″ gpa_a=”3.8″ gpa_b=”3.9″ gpa_c=”4″]
With an acceptance rate of 6.1%, admission to Columbia is extremely competitive. Based on our analysis, to have a good chance of being admitted, you need to have a GPA of around 4.13, and an SAT score of close to 1580, or an ACT score of around 34.
Want to improve your SAT score to better your chances of getting accepted to Columbia? Check out our SAT prep course! Let’s take a closer look at Columbia admission statistics.
2019 COLUMBIA ADMISSIONS STATISTICS: CLASS OF 2023
- Columbia’s acceptance rate in 2019 was 6.1%
- For the class of 2023, out of 36,250 applicants, Columbia admitted 2,228
- The average GPA of admitted applicants was 4.13
- The average ACT score was 33
- The average SAT score was 1520
For students who took the ACT, the 25th percentile score of successful applicants was 33, and the 75th percentile ACT score was 35.
For students who took the SAT, the 25th percentile score was 1460. The 75th percentile score was 1550.
If you’re somewhere in the middle of these numbers, remember that a high test score can compensate for a slightly lower GPA, and vice versa. If you’re at the lower end, it helps if you’re a diverse applicant, the child of an alum, or have incredible personal achievements.
[leadmagnet_five]
Other aspects of your application, such as athletics, extracurricular and recommendations, are important, but will likely only make a difference for admission if you’re in the 75th percentile range for your GPA and SAT/ACT scores.
As we said, admission to Columbia is extremely competitive. Even with a perfect SAT score of 1600 and a GPA of 4.0, your chances of admission are about 11%. With a perfect ACT score of 36 and a 4.0, your chances are about 17%.
OK, so you’ve decided to apply. We took at a look at Columbia’s admissions requirements to help you get everything in order.
There are three critical numbers when considering your admissions chances: SAT scores, GPA, and acceptance rate. All these combine to tell you what you scores are required to get into Columbia University.
Average SAT: 1505
The average SAT score composite at Columbia University is a 1505.
Columbia University SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1450, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1560.
In other words, a 1450 places you below average, while a 1560 will move you up to above average. There’s no absolute SAT requirement at Columbia University, but they really want to see at least a 1450 to have a chance at being considered.
To be competitive for Columbia admissions, whether you’re in Morningside Heights or across the Hudson in Bergen County, we recommend tutors who can help you master the SAT and ACT.
Here’s the breakdown of new SAT scores by section:
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| Math | 770 | 740 | 800 |
| Reading + Writing | 735 | 710 | 760 |
| Composite | 1505 | 1450 | 1560 |
Exclusive: Want to learn how to improve your SAT score by 160 points?
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you’ll study smarter and make huge score improvements.Get eBook: 5 Tips for 160+ Points
Average GPA: 4.12
The average GPA at Columbia University is 4.12. This makes Columbia University Extremely Competitive for GPAs.
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we’ve estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)
With a GPA of 4.12, Columbia University requires you to be at the top of your class. You’ll need nearly straight A’s in all your classes to compete with other applicants. You should also have taken plenty of AP or IB classes to show your ability to excel in academic challenge.
If you’re a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change from this point on. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4.12, you’ll need a higher SAT score to compensate and show that you’re prepared to take on college academics. This will help you compete effectively with other applicants.
Admissions Rate: 5.9%
The acceptance rate at Columbia University is 5.9%. In other words, of 100 students who apply, only 6 are admitted.
This means the school is very selective. Scores are vital to getting past their first round of filters. After that, you will need to impress them beyond just your academic scores.
Final Admissions Verdict
Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in. If you don’t pass their SAT and GPA requirements, they’ll likely reject you without much consideration.
To be safe, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1560 SAT and a 4.12 GPA or higher to be above average.
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world’s best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We’ve overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.Get Into Your Top Choice School
Admissions Calculator
What are your chances of admission at Columbia University?Chances of admission with these scores:5.94%
Here’s our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.
Pick your test: New SAT ACTSAT ScoreYour GPA
Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
- 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
- 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
- 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
- 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
- 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.How would your chances improve with a better score?
Try to take your current SAT score and add 160 points to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
At PrepScholar, we’ve created the leading online SAT prep program. We guarantee an improvement of 160 points on your score, or your money back.
Here’s a summary of why we’re so much more effective than other prep programs:
- PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses. You don’t waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
- We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you’re never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
- Our team is made of national SAT experts. PrepScholar’s founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. You’ll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
- We’ve gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers.
Columbia University in the City of New York’s average SAT score is 1500 – this is the sum of the math and reading portions of the SAT (the 1600 scale). Check out the below table for a deeper look into how students performed – it’s also very interesting to look at the average test score over time. The trend over time helps give insight into whether Columbia University in the City of New York is getting more or less competitive.
| 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math | 710 | 800 | 755 |
| Reading | 700 | 790 | 745 |
| 2019 Total | 1410 | 1590 | 1500 |
| 2018 Total | – | – | – |
| 2017 Total | – | – | – |
Columbia University in the City of New York’s average SAT score is 1500. To be a competitive applicant for Columbia University in the City of New York your SAT score should come close to the average. If you’re closer to the 1410, you’re likely going to have a tougher time getting accepted. To consider Columbia University in the City of New York a “target” school (one that you are likely to get into) you should aim for a score of 1590.
As you can see from the data above, Columbia University in the City of New York is exceptionally difficult to get into. Not only should you be aiming for a 3.91 but also SAT scores around 1500. Getting into Columbia University in the City of New York is no easy feat and you will need to set yourself apart with more than just numbers and data. Read on to learn how.
Now you know where you need to be for getting into Columbia University in the City of New York from a grade and test score perspective. Let’s quickly outline what else you’ll need to provide for your application to get reviewed, and then we’ll move onto the most important section: differentiating your app.
| Recommendations | Status |
|---|---|
| School Rank | Recommended |
| GPA | Recommended |
| School Record | Required |
How to get into Columbia University
Follow these steps to maximize your chances of getting into Columbia University. Everything you read above will help prepare you for what you need to achieve to have a shot at Columbia University, but these steps will take you even further in applying that knowledge and differentiating your application.
Main Academic Excellence that is in line with Columbia University admission standards.
- Score at least a 1500 on the SAT or 100 on the ACT.
- Maintain a GPA of at least a 3.91.
Join Extracurriculars that Align with Columbia University’s Values.
- Join your school band, a sports team or another group activity. If Columbia University in the City of New York values music heavily, for example, then try to participate in an organization related to that topic.
- Volunteer in your hometown. New York has tons of ways to be involved beyond just the college. Columbia University in the City of New York wants applicants that are also good ambassadors for the school – they want students who will give back to the local community and broader New York area in general.
- Spend your summer doing something that speaks to your values, personal growth, leadership qualities and other less quantifiable characteristics. Columbia University needs to see past your test scores and grades – they need to know that you will be a valuable and contributing member of their community. You are more than grades and test scores – your experiences should demonstrate that.
Prepare Your Application
- Write a stellar essay that shows Columbia University in the City of New York something they can’t figure out from the other parts of your application. For a detailed guide on writing the best college essay, check this out.
- Get teacher recs that speak to your character. If you know what you’re majoring in and include that in your Columbia University app, try to have at least 1 recommendation from a teacher in that department.
- Apply Before the Deadline. Too many students wait until the last minute to submit their application, and too much can go wrong during this precious time window. Since many students are applying on the last day, it’s possible that Columbia University’s own system crashes. Don’t risk the added stress this can cause – submit your app a few days early.
collage