- Acceptance rate: 4% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 740–780 reading and writing, 770–800 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 34–35 composite
- Average net price: $20,869 a year (2022–23)
Columbia University GPA calculator
On this page · 7 sections
How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Calculate your GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Columbia University in the City of New York reported: an acceptance rate of 4% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 34–35.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Columbia University in the City of New York reviews each application.
Columbia University in the City of New York GPA requirements
Columbia University in the City of New York requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Columbia University in the City of New York hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Columbia University in the City of New York acceptance rate
Columbia University in the City of New York admitted 2,400 of 60,115 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 4%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private nonprofit 4-year university in New York, New York, with 9,164 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Columbia University in the City of New York in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 740 | 760 | 780 |
| SAT Math | 770 | 790 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 35 |
| ACT English | 32 | 35 | 36 |
| ACT Math | 35 | 35 | 36 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1553 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Columbia University in the City of New York looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
AP credit
Columbia University in the City of New York awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $20,869 a year at Columbia University in the City of New York in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.5 GPA good enough for Columbia University in the City of New York?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Columbia University in the City of New York admitted 4% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What SAT and ACT scores do Columbia University in the City of New York students have?
The middle 50% of Columbia University in the City of New York's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 740–780 in reading and writing and 770–800 in math; ACT composite 34–35, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
How important is GPA for getting into Columbia University in the City of New York?
A lot: Columbia University in the City of New York requires high school GPA, high school record, high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers test scores, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into Columbia University in the City of New York?
Columbia University in the City of New York requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Does Columbia University in the City of New York require the SAT or ACT?
Check Columbia University in the City of New York's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Columbia University in the City of New York was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 45% sent SAT scores and 18% sent ACT scores.
What is Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate?
Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate was 4% for fall 2024: it admitted 2,400 of 60,115 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
How selective is Columbia University in the City of New York?
Very hard: fewer than 1 in 10 applicants got in, which makes it one of the hardest colleges to get into. Columbia University in the City of New York admitted 4% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Does Columbia University in the City of New York give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Columbia University in the City of New York awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Columbia University in the City of New York look at legacy status?
Yes. Columbia University in the City of New York considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How much does Columbia University in the City of New York cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $20,869 a year at Columbia University in the City of New York in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Sources
- College Navigator: Columbia University in the City of New YorkU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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