Ivy League research powerhouse founded 1754, advancing science, policy, and global thought from Manhattan.
Columbia is organized into 17 schools offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across engineering, sciences, medicine, law, business, journalism, and the arts. The university is a founding member of the Association of American Universities and pioneered the modern college application process in 1919. Core curriculum requirements, including "Introduction to Contemporary Civilization in the West," shape undergraduate education. Columbia maintains a Global Centers network across 11 cities to enhance international engagement and research collaboration.
Columbia scientists and scholars have driven major breakthroughs including brain–computer interfaces, the laser and maser, nuclear magnetic resonance, the first nuclear fission reactor in the Americas, and initial Manhattan Project research. The university operates the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory and Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and collaborates with Big Tech firms including Amazon and IBM on accelerator laboratories. Faculty expertise spans fundamental science, international relations, climate studies, and policy innovation.
The main campus occupies 299 acres in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, with recent expansion into the Manhattanville neighborhood. Students engage through publications (Columbia Daily Spectator), debate, Model UN, entrepreneurship initiatives, and the World Leaders Forum. Athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I FCS as members of the Ivy League. Campus traditions include the Varsity Show and Tree Lighting ceremonies. As of 2025, the campus is restricted to Columbia ID holders and approved guests.
Columbia College first admitted women in fall 1983. The university eliminated loans for undergraduates from families earning under $50,000 and expanded financial aid significantly under recent leadership. The university withdrew from U.S. News rankings in 2023 following data submission controversies and settled a class-action lawsuit for $9 million in July 2025 regarding alleged ranking data misrepresentation.
Claire Shipman serves as acting president as of March 2025. Jennifer Mnookin, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was announced as the next president effective July 1, 2026. The university is governed by a board of trustees and operates under MSCHE accreditation. Recent years have seen significant policy reforms addressing antisemitism and federal funding compliance.