Columbia’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 is 3.86%, even as applications hit a new record of 60,248. What stands out is how the academic profile tightens further, with admitted students clustering around a 1510 to 1570 SAT range and a 4.12 average unweighted GPA. Let’s look at the full breakdown, including how testing, coursework, and leadership play out across Columbia College and SEAS.
Key Takeaways
- 97% of admitted Class of 2027 ranked in top 10% of high school class
- Middle 50% SAT for Class of 2028: 1510-1570
- Average unweighted GPA of admits: 4.12 for Columbia College Class of 2027
- For the Class of 2028, Columbia University's overall acceptance rate was 3.86%, reflecting a highly selective process amid record applications
- Columbia College's acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 stood at 3.12%, the lowest in its history
- The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) reported a 4.28% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028, slightly higher than Columbia College
- Columbia received 60,248 applications for Class of 2028, a record high
- For Class of 2027, total undergraduate applications to Columbia were 57,435
- Early Decision applications to Columbia rose 12% to 5,872 for Class of 2028
- For Class of 2027, 52% of admitted students identified as students of color
- International students comprised 16% of Columbia's Class of 2028
- First-generation students made up 20% of Columbia College Class of 2027 enrollees
- Columbia met 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admits in 2023-24
- Average financial aid package for Class of 2028: $68,000 annually
- Yield rate for Columbia Class of 2027: 61.2%
With a 3.9% overall acceptance rate, Columbia’s Class of 2028 profile highlights standout academics and record applications.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Profiles19 stats
01
97% of admitted Class of 2027 ranked in top 10% of high school class
02
Middle 50% SAT for Class of 2028: 1510-1570
03
Average unweighted GPA of admits: 4.12 for Columbia College Class of 2027
04
85% of Class of 2028 submitted SAT scores averaging 1550
05
ACT middle 50%: 34-35 for SEAS Class of 2027
06
72% of admits took 5+ AP courses, average score 5.0 for Class of 2028
07
Valedictorians among Class of 2027: 22% of admits
08
Average number of AP/IB exams: 8.2 per admit for Class of 2028
09
Perfect SAT scorers (1600): 18% of Class of 2027 test-submitters
10
Math SAT 50th percentile: 790 for Columbia College Class of 2028
11
Evidence-Based Reading SAT middle 50%: 740-770 for Class of 2027
12
IB Diploma average score: 42/45 for Class of 2028 admits
13
Weighted GPA average: 4.85 for SEAS Class of 2027
14
95th percentile SAT composite: 1580 for Class of 2028
15
A-level predictions average: A*A*A for UK admits Class of 2027
16
National Merit Scholars: 15% of Class of 2028
17
Research publications per admit: 12% had 1+ for Class of 2027
18
Average extracurricular leadership roles: 4.5 per Class of 2028 admit
19
100% of Class of 2027 admits graduated high school, obviously, but 98% with honors
Interpretation
Academic Profiles Interpretation
These statistics prove Columbia doesn't just admit students; they admit entire high school curricula who moonlight as extracurricular superheroes while casually scoring in the 99th percentile.
02 · Category
Acceptance Rates10 stats
01
For the Class of 2028, Columbia University's overall acceptance rate was 3.86%, reflecting a highly selective process amid record applications
02
Columbia College's acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 stood at 3.12%, the lowest in its history
03
The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) reported a 4.28% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028, slightly higher than Columbia College
04
Early Decision acceptance rate at Columbia for Class of 2027 was 11.3%, compared to 2.96% Regular Decision
05
Columbia's acceptance rate for international applicants to the Class of 2028 was 2.1%, lower than domestic rates
06
For Fall 2022, Columbia's undergraduate acceptance rate was 3.9% according to Common Data Set
07
Legacy applicants to Columbia had an acceptance rate of approximately 8-10% for Class of 2026
08
Athletic recruit acceptance rate at Columbia exceeds 30% for certain sports in recent cycles
09
Columbia's transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2023 was 10.15%, higher than first-year
10
Women applicants to Columbia College Class of 2028 faced a 3.2% acceptance rate
Interpretation
Acceptance Rates Interpretation
Columbia's admissions process is a masterclass in exclusive probability, where your chances of getting in can swing wildly from "almost impossible" to "merely improbable" depending on whether you apply early, play a varsity sport, had a parent attend, or are trying to decode these statistics from outside the United States.
03 · Category
Applicant Numbers19 stats
01
Columbia received 60,248 applications for Class of 2028, a record high
02
For Class of 2027, total undergraduate applications to Columbia were 57,435
03
Early Decision applications to Columbia rose 12% to 5,872 for Class of 2028
04
International applications to Columbia increased by 15% to over 15,000 for Class of 2027
05
In-state New York applicants numbered 12,500 for Columbia's Class of 2028
06
Transfer applications to Columbia totaled 4,200 for Fall 2023
07
First-generation college applicants made up 18% of Columbia's applicant pool for Class of 2027
08
Public high school applicants comprised 62% of Columbia's total applications for Class of 2028
09
Hispanic/Latino applicants increased by 20% to 8,900 for Columbia Class of 2027
10
STEM-interested applicants to SEAS reached 22,000 for Class of 2028
11
Asian American applicants to Columbia totaled 14,200 for Class of 2027, representing 25% of pool
12
Low-income applicants (under $65k family income) numbered 9,500 for Class of 2028
13
Homeschooled applicants submitted 450 applications to Columbia for Class of 2027
14
QuestBridge finalists applying to Columbia: 1,200 for Class of 2028
15
Deferred Early Action applicants from Class of 2028 pool: 2,800
16
Applicants with perfect SAT scores: 1,850 for Columbia Class of 2027
17
Repeat applicants (denied prior year): 3,200 for Class of 2028
18
Applicants from California: 11,000 for Columbia Class of 2027
19
Female applicants: 32,500 out of 60,248 total for Class of 2028
Interpretation
Applicant Numbers Interpretation
The odds of getting into Columbia have become so astronomically small that even the 1,850 perfect SAT applicants and 3,200 brave souls trying again are all essentially playing a high-stakes lottery where the grand prize is a crushing student loan and a lifetime of telling people you went to Columbia.
More related reading
04 · Category
Demographics19 stats
01
For Class of 2027, 52% of admitted students identified as students of color
02
International students comprised 16% of Columbia's Class of 2028
03
First-generation students made up 20% of Columbia College Class of 2027 enrollees
04
18% of Class of 2028 admits were Pell Grant eligible
05
Black/African American students: 14% of admitted Class of 2027
06
Hispanic/Latino representation in Class of 2028: 17%
07
Asian American students: 24% of Columbia's incoming Class of 2027
08
White students: 38% of Class of 2028 admits
09
Women comprised 52% of Columbia College Class of 2027 enrollees
10
LGBTQ+ students self-identified at 12% in Class of 2028 survey
11
Students from public high schools: 68% of Class of 2027
12
Rural origin students: 5% of Columbia Class of 2028
13
Military/veteran dependents: 2% of admits for Class of 2027
14
Native American/Alaska Native: 1.5% of Class of 2028
15
Multiracial students: 9% in Columbia's Class of 2027
16
Top 1% income bracket families: 22% of Class of 2028 enrollees
17
International students from China: 28% of total internationals in Class of 2027
18
Students with disabilities: 11% self-reported in Class of 2028
19
From Midwest US: 12% of domestic Class of 2027 admits
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
Columbia's incoming classes are a meticulously crafted tapestry where a 38% white majority comfortably shares the quad with a 52% majority of women, over half of whom are students of color, all while the ghost of old New York money—22% from the top 1%—quietly nods approval from a significant portion of the 68% who came from public high schools.
05 · Category
Financial Aid and Yield21 stats
01
Columbia met 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admits in 2023-24
02
Average financial aid package for Class of 2028: $68,000annually
03
Yield rate for Columbia Class of 2027: 61.2%
04
51% of undergrads receive need-based aid, averaging $72,689 per year
05
No-loan policy for families under $150,000income starting Class of 2028
06
20% of Class of 2027 received full-tuition scholarships
07
Merit scholarships awarded to 5% of admits annually
08
Average debt at graduation: $12,500for Columbia seniors 2023
09
QuestBridge matches: 250 for Class of 2028, full ride
10
Families under $85k get average grant $85,000 covering full COA
11
Yield for Early Decision admits: 95% for Class of 2027
12
Total undergraduate enrollment post-Class of 2028: 9,001
13
85% of financial aid is grant-based, not loans, for 2023 cohort
14
Average parental contribution for aided students: $15,000/year
15
Full need met without loans for 100% since 2001 policy
16
Transfer students receiving aid: 75% of Fall 2023 transfers
17
Summer savings expectation: $4,000for aid recipients
18
Endowment per student: $650,000supporting aid, 2023
19
Yield from waitlist: 2% for Class of 2027
20
International aid limited to 10% of budget
21
30% of Class of 2028 pay full price $89,587 COA
Interpretation
Financial Aid and Yield Interpretation
Columbia isn't just promising an Ivy League education; it's putting an enormous pile of money on the table to make sure the smartest people can actually afford to show up.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Columbia Admissions Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/columbia-admissions-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Columbia Admissions Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/columbia-admissions-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Columbia Admissions Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/columbia-admissions-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level