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Columbia Business School FAQ

Answers to common questions about Columbia Business School MBA admissions, test scores, deadlines, costs, and career outcomes.

Admissions

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.

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 also accepts the Executive Assessment and GRE; for the same class, GRE Verbal and GRE Quantitative each averaged 163.

What GPA do I need for Columbia Business School?

The average undergraduate GPA for the class entering in 2025 was 3.6. Applicants report their GPA as it appears on the transcript, without converting it to a 4.0 scale.

Does Columbia Business School offer Early Decision?

No. Columbia's FAQ encourages candidates who would previously have applied Early Decision to apply in Round 1, which requires a US$6,000 first deposit. All deposits are nonrefundable.

Program

How long is the Columbia Business School MBA program?

Both entry terms comprise four terms. August-entry students complete a summer internship between the second and third terms. January-entry students finish in 16 months over four consecutive terms with no formal summer internship. The two entry terms merge in the fall of the second year and graduate as a single class. The MBA requires 60 credits.

What is the class size at Columbia Business School?

The class entering in 2025 enrolled 982 students: 758 in August entry and 224 in January entry.

How international is the Columbia Business School MBA?

International students make up 41% of the class entering in 2025, which represents 72 countries by citizenship.

Career

What is the median salary for Columbia Business School graduates?

The median base salary for the Class of 2025 was $175,000. The median signing bonus was $30,000, received by 68.9% of graduates reporting compensation.

What share of Columbia Business School graduates get jobs?

Three months after graduation, 92% of the Class of 2025 had received job offers and 90% had accepted offers. By the end of the year, 96% had received offers and 95% had accepted offers.

What are the top industries for Columbia Business School graduates?

For the Class of 2025, the largest industries were Financial Services (35.4%), Consulting (33.2%), and Technology (10.2%).

Financial

How much is tuition at Columbia Business School?

First-year tuition for 2026-27 is $93,908 for both August entry and January entry. Columbia notes that tuition and fees generally increase 2% to 7% in the second year.

What is the total cost of attendance at Columbia Business School?

The 2026-27 first-year budget is $143,030 for August entry (9 months) and $136,104 for January entry (8 months), including tuition, fees, health insurance, books, and living expenses.

What is the application fee for Columbia Business School?

The application fee is US$250 and is nonrefundable. Fee waivers are available to full-time students, active duty US military personnel, eligible displaced persons, and members of the Peace Corps or Teach For All network partners who are currently in service.

Application

What essays are required for the Columbia Business School application?

Applicants complete two short answer questions (50 characters each) and three essays (500, 250, and 250 words), plus an optional essay of up to 500 words.

How many recommendation letters does Columbia Business School require?

One recommendation, ideally from the current supervisor. Applicants through the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management submit two.

Does Columbia Business School require the TOEFL or IELTS?

No. International applicants are not required to submit a language test; Columbia considers the GRE or GMAT verbal score sufficient, and the interview is conducted in English.

Does Columbia Business School offer test waivers?

No. A valid GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE score is required for the full-time MBA, with no exemption.

Can I defer my admission?

No. Admitted students must start in the entry term to which they were admitted, with case-by-case exceptions for mandatory military deployment or inability to secure a visa. The Deferred Enrollment Program is a separate application for students completing a degree.

Class and campus

Where is Columbia Business School located?

Columbia Business School is on Columbia University's Manhattanville campus at 665 West 130th Street, New York, NY 10027.

What undergraduate backgrounds do Columbia Business School students have?

For the class entering in 2025: Business 30%, Engineering 19%, Economics 19%, Social Sciences 13%, Sciences 8%, Humanities 6%, Technology 4%, Other 2%.

What industries do Columbia Business School students come from?

For the class entering in 2025: Financial Services 30%, Consulting 23%, Technology 12%, Marketing/Media 10%, Other 8%, Healthcare 6%, Military/Government 4%, Nonprofit 3%, Real Estate 3%, Energy 2%.

Sources

  1. 1. Columbia Business School, MBA Class Profile (class entering 2025)
  2. 2. Columbia Business School, MBA Admissions Frequently Asked Questions
  3. 3. Columbia Business School, MBA Application Requirements
  4. 4. Columbia Business School, 2025 Employment Report
  5. 5. Columbia Business School, Full-Time MBA and MBAxMS Costs (2026-2027)
  6. 6. Columbia Business School, January-Entry