Admissions

The college application process is a personally meaningful milestone, and there are many resources to support you. This is a time to discover who you are, imagine who you want to become, and decide whether Columbia College or Columbia Engineering might be the right college for you.

We accept first-year applications from students who are hoping to enroll full time at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering. Our admissions staff reviews each application holistically and with care in order to understand what each candidate might contribute to our undergraduate community. Our goal is to identify the applicants we believe will make the most of this experience—both during their time here, and throughout their lives.

If paying the application fee is a significant financial burden for your family, we encourage you to request an automatic fee waiver through your admission application. Requesting a fee waiver will not disadvantage your application in any way. You can determine your fee waiver eligibility today using this form.

Columbia accepts either the Coalition Application or the Common Application. We will also accept the QuestBridge Application from QuestBridge Finalists. These applications include autobiographical information; lists and descriptions of a student’s achievements, activities, employment and summer activities; and a personal essay. The full list of application requirements and deadlines is available on the admissions website.