Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University's primary campus is located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, offering an urban academic experience. Students are known for their intellectual curiosity and engagement with global issues, fostered by a core curriculum emphasizing critical thinking across disciplines. The university is distinctive for its close ties to New York City, offering access to cultural resources and professional opportunities, and for administering the Pulitzer Prize.
Financial Aid
The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Columbia University in the City of New York's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 23% of students receive Pell Grants; 14% take federal loans.
Average net price across income brackets is $15,315, roughly 78% lower than the published tuition.
Net Price by Family Income
Academic Year 2025| Income Bracket | Avg Net Price | 4-Year Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $30K | $6,342 | $25,368 |
| $30K – $48K | $4,975 | $19,900 |
| $48K – $75K | $5,195 | $20,780 |
| $75K – $110K | $15,368 | $61,472 |
| $110K+ | $44,695 | $178,780 |
| Sticker price (no aid) | $69,045 | $276,180 |
Programs at Columbia University in the City of New York
26 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Degree Program | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Compare across schools → |
79
|
$118,636/yr | Very High | 6.4x |
| Economics Compare across schools → |
73
|
$83,135/yr | Very High | 3.9x |
| Operations Research Compare across schools → |
66
|
$110,457/yr | Very High | 6.2x |
|
Electrical Engineering
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Compare across schools → |
62
|
$84,019/yr | Very High | 3.1x |
| Computer Engineering Compare across schools → |
61
|
$102,083/yr | Very High | 2.7x |
| Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools → |
60
|
$72,036/yr | Very High | 2.8x |
|
Political Science
Political Science and Government Compare across schools → |
59
|
$61,077/yr | Very High | 2.6x |
| Chemical Engineering Compare across schools → |
57
|
$55,154/yr | High | 3.3x |
| Applied Mathematics Compare across schools → |
54
|
$91,559/yr | Very High | 2.3x |
| Sociology Compare across schools → |
53
|
$58,541/yr | High | 2.4x |
| Research and Experimental Psychology Compare across schools → |
53
|
$53,156/yr | High | 1.9x |
| Sustainability Studies Compare across schools → |
45
|
$53,957/yr | High | 2.1x |
| History Compare across schools → |
45
|
$53,828/yr | High | 1.4x |
|
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical/Medical Engineering Compare across schools → |
43
|
$62,895/yr | High | 1.3x |
|
Romance Languages
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Compare across schools → |
43
|
$54,327/yr | Very High | 1.9x |
|
Fine Arts
Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools → |
37
|
$51,435/yr | Moderate | 1.0x |
|
Biology
Biology, General Compare across schools → |
36
|
$40,935/yr | High | 1.5x |
|
Ethnic & Cultural Studies
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Compare across schools → |
34
|
$55,206/yr | Very High | 1.0x |
| Area Studies Compare across schools → |
33
|
$41,479/yr | Very High | 1.8x |
|
Social Sciences Studies
Social Sciences, Other Compare across schools → |
33
|
$34,845/yr | High | 1.8x |
|
English
English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools → |
31
|
$35,838/yr | Very High | 1.7x |
| Philosophy Compare across schools → |
29
|
$52,668/yr | Very High | 0.2x |
| Music Compare across schools → |
29
|
$32,924/yr | High | 0.2x |
|
Neuroscience
Neurobiology and Neurosciences Compare across schools → |
28
|
$33,893/yr | High | 1.8x |
|
Rhetoric & Writing
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Compare across schools → |
26
|
$36,244/yr | Very High | 1.4x |
|
Geosciences
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Compare across schools → |
22
|
$34,658/yr | High | 0.3x |
More Colleges in New York
Top-scored 4-year colleges and universities elsewhere in New York, ranked by average DegreeOutlook Score across their programs.