Columbia University Transient Student Admissions: What You Need To Know

Columbia University is a highly selective institution with a challenging admissions process. The university welcomes transfer students from a range of two- and four-year institutions, valuing the unique perspectives they bring to the community. While Columbia does not explicitly mention transient students, it does outline the transfer process, requirements, and deadlines. Additionally, another university with a similar name, Columbus State University, provides information on transient students and their admissions process.

Columbia University accepts over 100 transfer students each year

Columbia University welcomes over 100 transfer students each year from a range of two- and four-year institutions. The university is recognised as transfer-friendly, and the transfer acceptance rate is typically around 10%. In 2022, 341 students were accepted out of 3,008 applicants, and in 2021, 448 students were accepted out of 3,039 applicants.

Transfer applicants must submit the following:

• Columbia Supplement to the Coalition App
• Official college transcript
• Official high school transcript
• ACT or SAT scores (optional)
• Coalition App Transfer Report
• Coalition App Curriculum Report
• Two letters of recommendation from college instructors

To be eligible for transfer, students 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 before enrolling. They must also have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Transfer students are guaranteed housing, and there is a range of support available, including peer tutoring, a communication lab, licensed counsellors, and a commuter lounge.

Transfer applications for Fall 2025 are now available

Transfer Applications for Fall 2025 at Columbia University

Overview

Columbia University welcomes over 125 transfer students each year from a range of two- and four-year institutions. The university values the unique and diverse perspectives that transfer students bring to its community. The transfer application process for Fall 2025 is now open, and applicants can apply through the Coalition Application on Scoir.

Requirements

To be eligible for enrollment as a transfer student at Columbia University, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 24 points of credit (equivalent to one year of full-time study) at another institution or be registered to complete 24 points of credit by the time of enrollment.
• Submit official transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended.
• Submit two college academic recommendations from college professors.
• Submit a Coalition Application Transfer Report and a Coalition Application Curriculum Report.
• Submit a personal essay explaining the reason for transferring from the current institution.
• Submit a $85 application fee or a fee waiver request.

Deadlines

The deadline for transfer applications and financial aid applications for Fall 2025 is March 1. Admissions and financial aid decisions will be released online by June 1. The deposit deadline for admitted transfer students is mid-June, and the deadline for final transcripts is late June.

Additional Information

Columbia University does not offer academic, athletic, or talent-based institutional scholarships. However, transfer students may be eligible for merit-based scholarships from outside organizations. The university is highly selective, with an overall acceptance rate of less than 4% for first-year students. The transfer acceptance rate is typically under 10%, making the admissions process highly competitive.

Columbia University accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited colleges and universities

Columbia University accepts transfer students from a range of two- and four-year institutions, welcoming the unique and diverse perspectives they bring to the community. The university accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited colleges and universities.

Columbia College is recognised as a transfer-friendly college. The college accepts a total of 90 credit hours from any regionally accredited college or university. To be eligible for transfer, students must have received a grade of 2.0 or higher, and the courses must meet the College's current curriculum requirements.

The School of General Studies at Columbia University also welcomes applications from transfer students. Students may transfer up to 60 credits of liberal arts coursework toward their undergraduate degree as long as the grades are a C or above and the credits are considered equivalent to those offered at Columbia.

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering accept courses eligible for transfer credit if they are analogous to undergraduate courses offered at the institutions. Students must have received a grade of C- or better for Columbia College or a B or better for Columbia Engineering.

Columbia University accepts applications from transfer students on a rolling basis. The transfer deadline for all academic programs is March 1, and the university admits for the fall semester only.

Columbia University's transfer deadline is March 1

Columbia University's transfer deadline is fast approaching—March 1—and prospective students should be aware of the requirements and application process. Each year, Columbia College and Columbia Engineering welcome over 125 transfer students from a range of two- and four-year institutions, valuing the diverse perspectives they bring to the community. With a challenging sub-4% acceptance rate for first-year students, Columbia University is highly selective, but it offers a better chance of admission for transfer applicants.

Application Requirements:

To apply for a transfer to Columbia University, students must submit the following:

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

Additional Recommendations:

While not mandatory, applicants with the following qualifications and achievements have a better chance of gaining admission:

• Exceptional grades in at least 24 credit hours of college coursework (one year of full-time study)
• Completion of a portion of the Core Curriculum, along with discipline-specific courses
• For engineering applicants, completion of two semesters each of calculus and physics, and one semester of chemistry
• Independent or collaborative academic research published
• Notable extracurricular accomplishments, such as winning intercollegiate competitions, developing apps, earning patents, or demonstrating leadership

Application Essays:

In addition to the above requirements, transfer applicants must submit a 400-600 word essay explaining their reasons for transferring from their current institution. They will also be asked to list texts, resources, and outlets that have contributed to their intellectual development outside of academic courses.

Short Answer Questions:

As part of the application, students will need to answer several short answer questions, including:

• Describe an aspect of your perspective or lived experience and explain how it will shape your learning and contribution to Columbia's diverse community.
• Discuss a barrier or obstacle you have faced and the personal qualities or insights you gained from it.
• Explain your interest in attending Columbia University and what you find compelling about it.
• Detail your reasons for choosing your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering.

Application Timeline:

The March 1 deadline for transfer applications is also the deadline for financial aid applications. Admissions and financial aid decisions are typically released by June 1, with admitted students receiving notification by mid-June. The deadline for final transcripts for admitted students is late June.

Transfer Credits:

It's important to note that Columbia University has specific requirements for transfer credits. While students can transfer up to 90 credit hours, only courses with a grade of 2.0/C or higher from regionally accredited colleges and universities will be accepted. Additionally, Columbia does not award transfer credit for courses that are not analogous to those offered at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering.

With the March 1 deadline approaching, prospective transfer students should ensure they have all the required application components and meet the eligibility criteria.

Transfer students are guaranteed housing

Transfer students entering Columbia College (CC) or the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) are guaranteed housing for a certain number of consecutive terms, depending on their class and eligibility.

Rising Sophomores

Rising sophomores are guaranteed six consecutive terms of housing.

Rising Juniors

Rising juniors are guaranteed four consecutive terms of housing.

Application and Acceptance

To maintain guaranteed housing, students must apply and accept an assignment in their first term of attendance and continue occupancy through graduation. The majority of transfer and exchange students are assigned to doubles.

Transfer Student Housing Applications are available from a student's date of admission through July 15. Students should expect to receive their housing assignment in late July or early August.

Eligibility

To be eligible to transfer, a resident must be a current resident in Columbia Residential, a full-time student, postdoc, faculty, or staff member who was approved for housing by their school, and whose affiliation does not end within six months.

Frequently asked questions