Founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of Great Britain, Columbia University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth-oldest in the United States. Situated on a historic 36-acre campus in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, Columbia connects world-class liberal arts education directly with the endless cultural, financial, media, and scientific resources of New York City. You can examine its pre-revolutionary origins, historical milestones, and urban evolution through the Columbia University Wikipedia historical entry.
When you join the undergraduate community at Columbia College or the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, you step into an intellectually rigorous environment centered around the world-famous Core Curriculum. Established over a century ago, this shared intellectual foundation ensures that every student engages in small, seminar-style discussions regarding foundational literature, philosophy, scientific methods, music humanities, and fine arts regardless of their specialized major. Rather than memorizing passive facts, you learn to analyze complex texts, debate fundamental ethics, and defend your positions alongside classmates from every corner of the globe.
Premier Academic Programs
Columbia organizes its academic instruction across 20 schools and institutes, regularly setting global benchmarks for research excellence:
- Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science: Delivers cutting-edge instruction in computer science, applied physics, biomedical engineering, financial engineering, and robotics.
- Columbia Business School: Pioneers value investing, corporate leadership, and global market analysis from its state-of-the-art Manhattanville campus facilities.
- Columbia Law School: World-renowned center for corporate litigation, constitutional law, international governance, and public interest law advocacy.
- Graduate School of Journalism: Sets international benchmarks in investigative reporting, digital media ethics, and multimedia storytelling. Explore professional development pathways through the Columbia Professional Studies portal.
- Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Drives groundbreaking biomedical research and patient care in partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
"In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen, translated from Latin as In Thy light shall we see light, serves as Columbia's official motto, inspiring an unyielding search for truth, empirical clarity, and intellectual illumination."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily undergraduate life unfolds within a classical architectural masterpiece designed by McKim, Mead and White, anchored by the iconic Low Memorial Library plaza and the massive collection at Butler Library. Residential life revolves around tight-knit communities in historic residence halls such as Carman, Hartley, and Wallach. Campus spirit centers around Roar-ee the Lion, the official mascot who leads student cheers during NCAA Division I Ivy League athletic events across campus and at Baker Athletics Complex. You can read about the history, community appearances, and fan traditions surrounding this beloved mascot on the Roar-ee the Lion Official Page. With over 500 student organizations, lively performing arts groups, and the NYC subway right outside the campus gates on Broadway, you will experience an extraordinary urban collegiate environment.
Research Infrastructure and Global Networks
Columbia operates an extraordinary multi-billion-dollar research enterprise backed by advanced institutes and global research centers across four continents:
- Columbia University Libraries: You gain direct access to over 15 million volumes housed across 22 specialized facilities, managed via Columbia University Libraries.
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute: Brings together neuroscientists, engineers, and psychologists to decipher the biological mechanisms of human cognition and neural disease.
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory: A premier scientific research center focusing on climate dynamics, oceanography, seismology, and environmental geology.
- Columbia Startup Lab: Provides co-working space, professional mentorship, and seed capital for student entrepreneurs expanding commercial ventures across New York City.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of founding fathers, Supreme Court justices, literary pioneers, and Nobel laureates, including:
- Alexander Hamilton: Founding Father and first United States Secretary of the Treasury who attended King's College in 1773.
- Barack Obama: The 44th President of the United States who graduated from Columbia College with a degree in political science.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Supreme Court Justice and pioneering advocate for legal equality who earned her law degree at Columbia.
- Warren Buffett: Legendary investor and philanthropist who earned his Master of Science in Economics at Columbia Business School.
- Ursula K. Le Guin: Renowned speculative fiction author who earned her Master of Arts degree in French literature at Columbia.
Columbia maintains a completely need-blind admissions policy for domestic and international undergraduate applicants, meeting 100 percent of demonstrated financial need without student loans. Review full application guidelines and deadlines on the official Columbia Undergraduate Admissions portal.