Columbia University

Columbia University, founded in 1754, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. Its campus sits in the Morningside Heights neighbourhood of Manhattan, giving students a distinctly urban New York City experience.

Why students choose Columbia

• Ivy League standing with particularly strong journalism, law, business, and international affairs schools.
• A distinctive Core Curriculum grounding undergraduates in shared texts across the humanities and sciences.
• An unmatched Manhattan location, close to media, finance, publishing, and the United Nations.
• A large and active international student community drawn to New York City.
• Extensive research centres and affiliated institutions across medicine, science, and public policy.

Campus and location

Columbia’s main campus occupies a compact quadrangle in Morningside Heights, Upper Manhattan, with the rest of New York City close by via the subway.

What students say

A recurring theme is that Columbia’s Core Curriculum and academic workload are demanding, with some students describing the pace as intense compared to peer institutions. Students often highlight the strength of the international community and the range of cultural and academic groups available for support. The Manhattan location is frequently mentioned as a major draw, though some reviews note that the cost of living in New York City adds pressure alongside coursework.

Official website: https://www.columbia.edu

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