Columbia Business School
New York, United States - Founded 1916
Columbia Business School is the business school of Columbia University, founded in 1916, with its campus in Manhattanville, New York City. The full-time MBA has two entry terms: August entry, which includes a summer internship, and January entry, a 16-month program without a summer internship. The class entering in 2025 enrolled 982 students (758 August entry, 224 January entry) from 7,477 applications. Three months after graduation, 92% of the Class of 2025 had received job offers and 90% had accepted offers. The Class of 2025 median base salary was $175,000.
Class size
982
Avg GMAT
734
Median salary
$175,000
Class profile
Applications
7,477
Avg GPA
3.6
GMAT range
610-780
Intl students
41%
Women
46%
Avg work exp
5.0 yrs
Avg age
-
GRE accepted
Yes
Undergraduate majors
Pre-MBA industries
Employment
Median base salary
$175,000
Signing bonus
$30,000
Placement (3 mo)
90%
Offers at grad
-
Changed industry
-
Changed function
-
Top employers
| Industry | % of class |
|---|---|
| Financial Services | 35.4% |
| Consulting | 33.2% |
| Technology | 10.2% |
| Other | 4.2% |
| Real Estate | 3.8% |
| Consumer Products | 3.7% |
| Healthcare | 2.9% |
| Media, Entertainment & Sports | 1.9% |
| Manufacturing | 1.8% |
| Education/Government/Nonprofit | 1.2% |
| Retail | 0.3% |
Programs
| Type | Program | Duration | Format | Tuition | Class size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time MBA | Full-time MBA (August entry) | 24 months | on_campus | $93,908 (2026-27 first-year tuition) | 758 |
| Full-time MBA | Full-time MBA (January entry) | 16 months | on_campus | $93,908 (2026-27 first-year tuition) | 224 |
| Early-career | Deferred Enrollment Program | Enroll after 2 to 5 years of work | on_campus | $93,908 (2026-27 first-year MBA tuition) | - |
| Executive MBA | Executive MBA (EMBA-NY) | 20 months | on_campus | See program page | - |
| Specialized master | Master of Science in Financial Economics (MSFE) | 24 months | on_campus | See program page | - |
| Joint degree | Three-Year JD/MBA | 36 months | on_campus | See program page | - |
| PhD | PhD Program | 60 months | on_campus | See program page | - |
All full-time MBA programs comparedAll early-career MBA programs compared
Admissions
| Round | Deadline | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| August 2027 entry, Round 1 | September 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM (ET) | On December 14, 2026 |
| August 2027 entry, Round 2 | January 5, 2027 at 12:00 PM (ET) | On March 24, 2027 |
| August 2027 entry, Round 3 | March 29, 2027 at 12:00 PM (ET) | On May 12, 2027 |
| January 2027 entry, Round 1 (closed) | June 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM (ET) | Ongoing, and no later than July 31, 2026 |
| January 2027 entry, Round 2 (closed) | August 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM (ET) | Ongoing, and no later than October 1, 2026 |
| January 2027 entry, Round 2 Extended (closed) | September 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM (ET) | Ongoing |
Application fee
$250
Tuition
$93,908 (2026-27 first-year tuition)
Total cost
$143,030 (2026-27 first-year budget, August entry)
Interview
By invitation only; interviews cannot be requested
English test
Not required
Deferral
No deferrals after admission, except case-by-case review for mandatory military deployment or inability to secure a visa; the Deferred Enrollment Program is a separate application for current students
FAQ
What GMAT score do I need for Columbia Business School?
For the class entering in 2025 (January and August 2025 entries), the GMAT (10th Edition, 200 to 800 scale) average was 734 with a range of 610 to 780, and the GMAT Focus Edition (205 to 805 scale) average was 690 with a range of 615 to 805. Columbia accepts the GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, Executive Assessment, and GRE, and offers no test waivers for the full-time MBA.
What is the acceptance rate at Columbia Business School?
Columbia Business School does not publish an acceptance rate. For the class entering in 2025 it reported 7,477 applications and 982 enrolled students (758 August entry, 224 January entry).
Does Columbia offer a January intake?
Yes. The January-entry MBA is a 16-month program over four consecutive terms with no formal summer internship. The January 2027 application is closed; its deadlines were June 17, 2026 (Round 1), August 13, 2026 (Round 2), and September 1, 2026 (Round 2 Extended).
What is the median salary for Columbia MBA graduates?
For the Class of 2025, the median base salary was $175,000 and the median signing bonus was $30,000, received by 68.9% of graduates reporting compensation. Three months after graduation, 92% of the Class of 2025 had received job offers and 90% had accepted offers.
Sources
- 1Columbia Business School, Class profile
- 2Columbia Business School, Admissions
- 3Columbia Business School, Employment report (checked October 15, 2026)
Campus photo by Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.