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Columbia University

Ranked
New York, United States
=18th in World University Rankings 2025
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About Columbia University

Basic information and contact details for Columbia University

institution

Founded in 1754 as King’s College by Royal Charter of King George II of England, Columbia is the oldest university in the state of New York and one of the oldest in the US.

Its main landmark is the Low Memorial Library, which was built in the Roman Classical style and still houses the university’s central administration offices.

As well as its main campus in the heart of New York City on Broadway, Columbia has two facilities outside Manhattan: Nevis Laboratories, a centre for the study of high-energy experimental particle and nuclear physics in Irvington, New York, and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York.

More than 80 faculty members, adjunct staff and alumni of Columbia have won a Nobel prize since 1901, when the awards were first granted. These include chemist Robert Lefkowitz, economist Joseph Stiglitz and US President Barack Obama, who was given the Peace Prize in 2009.

Columbia has also educated Founding Father of the US Alexander Hamilton, US presidents Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt and actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Katie Holmes and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The private research-based university has 20 schools – which include architecture, planning and preservation; business; Jewish theological seminary; and law – and 23 libraries that are scattered across the city. Sponsored research from its medical centre produces more than $600 million annually.

Columbia Technology Ventures, the institution’s technology transfer office, manages more than 400 new inventions each year and has been involved in launching over 150 start-up companies based on Columbia’s technologies.

The university also has nine Columbia Global Centres, which aim to promote and facilitate collaboration between the university’s staff, students and alumni in order to address global challenges. These are in China, Jordan, Turkey, Kenya, India, France, Chile, Brazil and New York City.

In 2014-15, the university’s total endowment value passed the $9.6 billion mark.

Lee Bollinger became Columbia University’s 19th president in 2002, making him the longest-serving leader of an Ivy League institution.

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Rankings

Select the type of rankings below to see stats

World University Rankings 2025
20406080100
Overall 89.8
Teaching 86.4
Research Environment 88.8
Research Quality 96.9
International Outlook 85.4
Industry 75.9
868788899091201620172018201920202021202220232024202586.186.18687.28786.889.689.490.989.8

Breakdown via year: Overall

Ranking positions 2016 to 2025
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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at Columbia University

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International student percentage
40% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
5.9 (1)
student
Student total
30541 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025

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Subjects Taught at Columbia University

See below for a range of subjects taught at Columbia University

Physical Sciences15th

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Mathematics and Statistics

Computer Science26th

  • Computer Science

Social Sciences12th

  • Sociology
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Communication and Media Studies

Life Sciences14th

  • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Sport Science
  • Biological Sciences

Clinical and Health16th

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Other Health

Law5th

  • Law

Business and Economics14th

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Business and Management
  • Accounting and Finance

Arts and Humanities12th

  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Archaeology
  • Art, Performing Art and Design
  • Architecture

Engineering28th

  • General Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Psychology14th

  • Psychology