Columbia University in the City of New York
A strong choice. It ranks 27 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 93.6 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
Student reviews are coming soon
We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.
Why it is good
- 93% of students graduate, better than 97% of four-year colleges.
- It beats expectations: it graduates 27 points more students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (93% against an expected 66%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
- Students stay: 98% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 96% of four-year colleges.
- Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $109,430, higher than 98% of four-year colleges.
- Earnings beat expectations by about $40,141 a year for a college with its student mix (the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about $15,000).
- Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $20,500 in federal loans against earnings of $109,430.
- Affordable: the average student pays about $15,370 a year after grants, cheaper than 70% of four-year colleges.
Why it is bad
Nothing stands out as clearly worse than similar colleges.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 391 | $103,078 | $16,500 |
| Economics | 360 | $79,419 | $19,698 |
| Political Science and Government | 232 | $56,415 | $21,500 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 166 | $42,682 | $31,181 |
| History | 152 | $38,597 | $22,250 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 89 | $38,829 | $18,442 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 87 | $40,896 | $18,971 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 75 | $69,338 | $10,275 |
| Philosophy | 75 | $28,598 | $16,000 |
| Sociology | 70 | $44,170 | $20,750 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 69 | $31,127 | $27,000 |
| Area Studies | 64 | $43,798 | $18,000 |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.