Transferring To Columbia: What You Need To Know

Columbia University is a highly selective institution with a sub-4% acceptance rate for first-year students. However, it is relatively more welcoming to transfer applicants, with a transfer acceptance rate of 11.3% for Fall 2022. The university typically accepts fewer than 10% of transfer applicants each year, amounting to over 100 students. The process of applying to transfer to Columbia is straightforward, but the competition is intense. Transfer applicants are expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 and must submit various documents, including transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and essays.

Columbia University transfer requirements

Columbia University is an extremely selective institution with a sub-4% acceptance rate for first-year students. However, it is a little more welcoming to transfer applicants, with between 400 and 500 transfer students typically accepted each year.

Deadlines

The Columbia transfer deadline for all academic programmes is 1 March, which is also the deadline for financial aid applications. Columbia admits transfer students for the fall semester only. The application fee is $85, although a fee waiver request can be made.

Academic Requirements

To be eligible for enrolment as a transfer student at Columbia, you must have earned 24 points of credit (the equivalent of one year of full-time study) at another institution, or be registered to complete this amount by the time of enrolment.

Columbia Engineering transfer applicants are expected to have completed two semesters of calculus and physics and one semester of chemistry.

Application Requirements

The following items are required as part of the Columbia University transfer application:

• Columbia Supplement to the Coalition App
• Official college transcript
• Official high school transcript
• ACT or SAT scores (optional for applicants to Columbia College or Columbia Engineering through the 2023-24 cycle)
• Coalition App Transfer Report
• Coalition App Curriculum Report
• Two letters of recommendation from college instructors

Additional Considerations

Columbia University states that successful applicants typically have at least a 3.5 overall GPA. However, some sources suggest that a GPA of 3.9 or higher will give applicants the most favourable odds.

Columbia University will also want to see a record of achievement outside the classroom. This could include independent academic research, winning an intercollegiate competition, developing an app, earning a patent, or achieving noteworthy accomplishments through a leadership role.

Essay Questions

As part of the application, students will be asked to upload a 400-600 word essay explaining why they are interested in transferring from their current institution.

In addition, there are several short-answer questions, including:

• Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s diverse and collaborative community. (150 words or fewer)
• Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result. (150 words or fewer)
• Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? (150 words or fewer)
• What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering? (150 words or fewer)

Columbia University transfer acceptance rate

Overview

Columbia University is an extremely selective institution with a sub-4% acceptance rate for first-year students. However, the university is more welcoming to transfer applicants, accepting between 400 and 500 transfer students each year.

Recent Acceptance Rates

For the fall of 2022, Columbia University received 3,008 transfer applications and admitted 341 students, resulting in an 11.3% transfer acceptance rate. This was a decrease from the previous year, which saw a transfer acceptance rate of 14.7% with 448 admitted students out of 3,039 applicants.

Gender Breakdown

When broken down by gender, the acceptance rates for the fall of 2022 were 13.2% for male applicants and 9.2% for female applicants.

Historical Data

Columbia University typically admits fewer than 10% of transfer applicants each year, although rates can fluctuate significantly year-to-year.

Requirements and Recommendations

Columbia University requires transfer applicants to submit various documents, including transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and essays. The university also seeks students who demonstrate academic excellence, meaningful contribution to the university community, and clear articulation of goals and achievements.

Competitive Applicants

To be competitive, applicants should aim for a GPA of 3.9 or higher and showcase exceptional grades in at least 24 credit hours of college coursework. They should also aim to complete a portion of the Core Curriculum and any discipline-specific courses required for their intended major.

Application Timeline

The transfer application deadline for Columbia University is March 1st, with admissions decisions released by June 1st. The university admits transfer students for the fall semester only.

Columbia University transfer application process

Overview

Columbia University welcomes over 125 transfer students each year from a range of two- and four-year institutions. The transfer application process at Columbia is holistic, and the admissions committee considers a variety of factors beyond academic excellence and preparedness.

Eligibility

To be eligible for transfer admission, you must have completed or be in the process of completing the equivalent of one full academic year (24 credits) at a US-style college. Candidates who have completed more than four semesters of college coursework are discouraged from applying due to the difficulty of completing all graduation requirements within a reasonable timeframe.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for a complete transfer application to Columbia:

• The Coalition Application powered by Scoir
• Columbia Supplement to the Coalition Application
• $85 application fee or fee waiver request
• Official high school transcript from all high schools attended
• Official college transcript from all colleges attended
• The Coalition Application Transfer Report
• The Coalition Application Curriculum Report
• Two College Academic Recommendations
• Standardized test scores (optional)

Additional Requirements

In addition to the required documents, transfer applicants must also submit:

• A 400-600 word essay explaining their reasons for transferring
• Responses to Columbia-specific short answer questions

Deadlines

The deadline for transfer applications and financial aid applications is March 1. Admissions and financial aid decisions are typically released by June 1.

Columbia University transfer deadlines

Columbia University accepts transfer students, welcoming over 125 transfer students each year from a range of two- and four-year institutions. The transfer application deadline for Fall 2025 is March 1, which is also the deadline for financial aid applications. Columbia University only admits transfer students for the fall semester.

The transfer application process requires a completed transfer application, including:

• The Coalition Application powered by Scoir
• Columbia Supplement to the Coalition Application
• $85 application fee or fee waiver request
• An official high school transcript from all high schools attended
• An official college transcript from all colleges attended
• The Coalition Application Transfer Report
• The Coalition Application Curriculum Report
• Two College Academic Recommendations
• Standardized tests (optional)

Columbia University also requires a minimum of 24 credits (the equivalent of one year of full-time study) at another institution or be registered to complete 24 points of credit by the time of enrollment.

The admissions decisions are released online by June 1, with the deposit deadline for admitted transfer students in mid-June and the deadline for final transcripts in late June.

Columbia University transfer GPA requirements

Columbia University accepts transfer students from a range of two- and four-year institutions, valuing the unique and diverse perspectives they bring to the community. The university welcomes over 125 transfer students each year.

To be eligible for enrolment as a transfer student at Columbia University, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 overall. Candidates for Columbia Engineering are strongly encouraged to have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in their mathematics and science courses.

The university states that successful applicants typically have at least a 3.5 overall GPA. However, applicants with a GPA of 3.9 or higher will have more favourable odds of acceptance.

Columbia University requires a minimum of 24 credits for transfer students.

Frequently asked questions