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Columbia Business School - Acceptance Rate, Ranking, Fees

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Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 17 Dec '24, by Loveleen Sharma (Study Abroad Expert)

Columbia University Business & Management Studies
What’s new?

Deadlines at Columbia Business School for its Business and Management programs are mentioned below:

  • MBA for Fall 2025 Entry:
    • Round 2 Application deadline is Jan 7, 2025
    • Round 3 Application deadline is Apr 1, 2025
    • Deferred Enrolment Round Deadline is Apr 15, 2025

 

  • Executive MBA for Fall 2025 Entry:
    • EMBA-NY Saturday Round 2 Application Deadline is Jan 15, 2025
    • EMBA-Global (May Entry) Round 2 Application Deadline is Jan 14, 2025
    • EMBA-Global (May Entry) Round 3 Application Deadline is Mar 20, 2025
    • EMBA-NY Fri/Sat (August Entry) Round 1 Application Deadline is Feb 12, 2025
    • EMBA-NY Fri/Sat (August Entry) Round 2 Application Deadline is April 15, 2026
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About Columbia Business School

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Commonly asked questions
On About Business & Management Studies

Q:   Is Columbia Business School an Ivy League?

A: 

# Is Columbia Business School an Ivy League?

The Columbia University has four schools under it, one of which is Columbia Business School which is the B-School. Yes, Columbia University is an Ivy League because it is one of the eight private institutions of higher education in the North eastern region of the United States with high academic reputation.

This B-School is considered an Ivy League because:

·         Location: CBS is the only Ivy in New York City. NYC is widely popular due to the close proximity to an abundance of career opportunities.

·         Financial Aid: The CBS offers need based scholarships to the students and its financial aid package if considered one of the richest in the world.

·         Curriculum: The Business and Management curriculum of this CBS is aimed on industry relevance and high employability.

Q:   Is an MBA from Columbia Business School worth it?

A: 

Columbia Business School is ranked at #12 by the US News and World Ranking body 2024 among the best 124 B-schools of the world. CBS MBA graduates are known for their calibre in understanding the Business and Management world and make innovations to it. The CBS Placement rate for the MBA class 2023 stands at 84% (within three months of graduation) with the average median salary of USD 175,000 (INR 1.60 Cr.). The CBS MBA tuition for the first year excluding accommodation, living expenses, and health insurance is USD 88,300 (INR 74.5 L) which can go up to USD 132,258 (INR 1.11 Cr) with all other expenses. The CBS MBA graduates get placed in companies like McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Amazon etc. for the roles in consulting, financial services, health care, fintech etc. If a student is looking for a B-school with great location, rigorous curriculum, career exposure, and academic excellence, then yes, Columbia Business School can be worth it.

Q:   What GPA do you need to get into Columbia Business School?

A: 

As part of the Columbia Business School application process, the international students are required to submit the Undergraduates scores such as GPA. The average GPA of CBS MBA Class 2024 is 3.5 on a scale of 4.0. To sum up, the students are suggested to have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to be enrolled at this B-school. Other than average GPA, other Columbia Business School MBA admission requirements include:

Average Scores CBS MBA Profile(Class 2026)

Scores

Average GMAT Score

732 with a range of 600 to 780

Average GRE Quant Score

162 with a range of 143 to 170

Average GRE Verbal Score

162 with a range of 146 to 170

Average GPA

3.6 on a scale of 4.0

Q:   Is it hard to get admission to MBA at Columbia Business School?

A: 

Ranked as the world's 8th best B-School by QS World 2025, the Columbia Business School MBA is hard to get into as the students from all around the world apply to this school. CBS received 7,847 applications for the class of 2024, out of which 972 applicants were rolled out an offer letter which makes up a CBS acceptance rate of 8.07%. The low acceptance rate suggests that this B-School is hard to get into, but it is not impossible. Below mentioned are the average scores and other relevant data of CBS MBA students:

CBS MBA Class 2024 profile

Data

Average GMAT Score

732 with a range of 600 to 780

Average GRE Quant Score

162 with a range of 143 to 170

Average GRE Verbal Score

162 with a range of 146 to 170

Average GPA

3.6 on a scale of 4.0

Average Work Experience

5 Years

 

Columbia Business School Courses and Fees 2025

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Courses1st Year Tuition FeesDuration & Eligibility
MBA/PGDM(20 courses)
INR 44 L - 78 L
Duration9 months-2 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 99 - 114, GRE, IELTS: 7 & Above
MIM(19 courses)
INR 44 L - 78 L
Duration9 months-2 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 99 - 114, IELTS: 7 & Above, GRE
Others PG(1 course)
INR 46 L
Duration2 years
Exam AcceptedGRE, TOEFL: 100 & Above
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
On Fees and Eligibility

Q:   Does Columbia Business School have a 1 year MBA?

A: 

Columbia Business School offers programs across diverse areas such as MBA, MBA Dual degree, EMBA, MS, Undergraduate etc. Unlike most B-Schools in the US, Columbia offers an accelerated MBA which can be completed in 16 months.

The entire students experience stays the same; the curriculum, the faculty, and same highly selective standards. The only difference is that these accelerated MBA students can only join in January (Spring), and these students don't have to do a Summer Internship, while the August entry students have to engage in Summer internships. This accelerated MBA is for those who do not wish to change their industry, entrepreneurs, and the students in family businesses.

Q:   How much does MBA cost at Columbia Business School?

A: 

As an international student, Columbus MBA can cost around USD 132,258 (INR 1.11 Cr) per year out of which the CBS MBA tuition is USD 88,300 (INR 74.6 L). Please note that the tuition fee increases by 2 to 7% in the second year.

CBS MBA First Year Fee Components (2024-25)

Amount

Tuition

USD 88,300 (INR 74.6 L)

Mandatory Fees

USD 5,857 (INR 4.94 L)

Health Insurance

USD 4,955 (INR 4.18 L)

Books & Supplies

USD 1,250 (INR 1.05 L)

Food & Housing

USD 27,396 (INR 23.1 L)

Personal Expenses

USD 3,177 (INR 2.68 L)

Transportation

USD 1,323 (INR 1.11 L)

First Year Total Budget

USD 132,258 (INR 1.11 Cr)

(USD 1 = INR 84.45)

Q:   Can I get financial aid to do an MBA in Columbia Business School?

A: 

Yes, Columbia Business School provides scholarships. In fact, the CBS is well renowned for the having one of the largest scholarship funds. There is no need to apply for the scholarships separately, it is integrated in the CBS application process. Below mentioned are the scholarships provided to MBA students:

Scholarship Type

Criteria

Benefits

Merit-Based Scholarships

Academic achievements, professional accomplishments, leadership potential

                 Tuition Coverage of 20% to 100%

Need-Based Scholarships

Demonstrated financial need

Comprehensive financial support: tuition, fees, living expenses

Diversity Scholarships

Support for underrepresented minorities, women, LGBTQ+, veterans

Enhance diversity in student body

International Scholarships

Outstanding candidates from outside the US

Partial to full tuition, visa fees, relocation costs

Columbia University Business & Management Studies
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Columbia Business School Rankings 2025

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Commonly asked questions
On Rankings

Q:   Is Columbia Business School a top school?

A: 

Columbia Business School is ranked at #12 by the US News and World Ranking body 2024 among the best 124 B-schools of the world. CBS MBA graduates are known for their calibre in understanding the Business and Management world and make innovations to it. QS World ranking body has ranked CBS at #8 with a score of 96.9%. According to the rankings mentioned above, yes Columbia Business School is considered one of the top B-Schools in the US and the world.

The CBS Placement rate for the MBA class 2023 stands at 84% (within three months of graduation) with the average median salary of USD 175,000 (INR 1.60 Cr.).

Q:   Is Wharton School better than Columbia Business School?

A: 

The Columbia Business School ranks #8, and The Wharton School ranks at #2 according to the rankings released by the QS World ranking body for the year 2025. If the point to consider is employability, according to the Employment report 2023 published by Wharton, 97.2% of the students who were seeking employment received an offer letter within three months, while it stands at 84% for Columbia Business School.

The table compares these two best Business schools in depth:

Criteria

Columbia Business School 

Wharton School  

Location

New York 

Philadelphia, USA

Average Starting Salary

USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr)

USD 175,000 (1.47 Cr)

Sign-On Bonus

USD 30,000 (INR 25 L)

USD 30,000 (INR 25 L)

Acceptance Rate (Class 2026)

8.07%

11.8%

First-Year Tuition (MBA)

USD 88,300 (INR 74.6 L)

USD 84,830 (INR 71.6 L)

Return on Investment (ROI) Based on the Data of first year tuition fee and the average median salary

198.8%

206.2%

Top Companies Hiring

·         McKinsey & Company

·         Boston Consulting Group

·         Bain & Company

·         Amazon

·         Morgan Stanley

·         Deloitte

·         PwC Strategy&

·         Google

·         JPMorgan Chase &

·         Ab Bernstein

·         Activision Blizzard

·         Adobe Inc.

·         Alixpartners

·         Alpine Investors

 

Ranking (QS World 2025)

#8

#2

Average GPA

3.5

3.6

Average GMAT Score (MBA Class 2026)

732

732

Average GRE Quant Score (Class 2026)

162

163

Average GRE Verbal Score (Class 2026)

162

162

Placement Rate (2023) within three months of commencement

84%

97.2%

 

Q:   Is it tough to get admission to Columbia Business School?

A: 

Columbia Business School stays a popular choice among students to pursue an MBA degree from. The students worldwide apply to the CBS Business and Management programs. CBS received 7,847 applications for the class of 2024, out of which 972 applicants were rolled out an offer letter which makes an acceptance rate of 8.07%, which means the out of every 100 applicants, only 8 to 9 were given an offer letter. The low acceptance rate suggests that CBS is a tough school to get into but not impossible

View Ranking DetailsRight Arrow Icon

Columbia Business School Admissions Dates 2025

Columbia Business School Admission Requirements 2025

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Commonly asked questions
On Admission Requirements

Q:   Can I get admission to MBA at Columbia Business School with a 3.3 GPA?

A: 

While there are no minimum requirements for a certain GPA at Columbia Business School, brilliant students from all over the world apply to this B-School, which makes it competitive and highly selective. Columbia Business School MBA acceptance rate stands at 8.07% for the year 2024, which is significantly less than the last year (2023) which was 15.2%.

CBS prefers students with STEM backgrounds although if students can show the relevant work experience, non-STEM students can compete too. Please note that a student is suggested to have a minimum GPA of 3.6 as it was the average GPA of MBA class 2024.

Other than average GPA, other Columbia Business School MBA admission requirements include:

Average Scores CBS MBA Profile(Class 2026)

Scores

Average GMAT Score

732 with a range of 600 to 780

Average GRE Quant Score

162 with a range of 143 to 170

Average GRE Verbal Score

162 with a range of 146 to 170

Average GPA

3.6 on a scale of 4.0

 

Q:   Does admission to Columbia Business School require GMAT score?

A: 

As a part of Columbia MBA application process, a student is required to take a standardized entrance test which can be either GMAT or GRE. The table below shows the average scores achieved by the CBS MBA class 2024:

Average Scores CBS MBA Profile(Class 2026)

Scores

Average GMAT Score

732 with a range of 600 to 780

Average GRE Quant Score

162 with a range of 143 to 170

Average GRE Verbal Score

162 with a range of 146 to 170

Q:   Do I need to give interview for admission to MBA at Columbia Business School?

A: 

The international students are called for an interview after their application is shortlisted. These are some tips that the students who have been a part of CBS MBA interview:

·         Columbia alum or student conducts the interview, without access to the application (only an applicant's resume if shared).

·         Expect behavioural questions and discussions about your background, goals, and interest in Columbia.

·         Practice mock interviews aloud using prepared stories and resume basics.

·         Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer at the end.

Columbia Business School Placements 2025

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Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
On Placements

Q:   What is the starting salary offered to Columbia Business School graduates?

A: 

The average median salary for a Columbia Business School MBA graduate can be USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr) in industries such as Consulting, Finance, Technology, Real estate etc.

Here are the highlights of placements of the Columbia Business School MBA graduates class of 2023:

Columbia Business School MBA Class Particulars (2023)

Data (2023)

Average Median Base Salary

USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr)

Average Sign on bonus

USD 30,000 (INR 32 L)

Top Employers

·         McKinsey & Company

·         Boston Consulting Group

·         Bain & Company

·         Amazon

·         Morgan Stanley

·         Deloitte

·         PwC Strategy&

·         Google

·         JPMorgan Chase & Co.

·         AlixPartners

(USD 1 = INR 84.45)

Q:   What are the various companies that hire Columbia Business School graduates?

A: 

The Columbia Business School placement rate stands at 84% within the three months of graduation form this B-School, and this rate increased by the year end, 92% of the students reported placement.

The table below shows the top companies hiring the MBA graduates from Columbia Business School:

Top Companies Hiring Columbia Business School  MBA Graduates

·         McKinsey & Company

·         Boston Consulting Group

·         Bain & Company

·         Amazon

·         Morgan Stanley

·         Deloitte

·         PwC Strategy&

·         Google

·         JPMorgan Chase & Co.

·         AlixPartners

 

Q:   What is the highest package offered to MBA graduates of Columbia Business School?

A: 

According to the employment report (2023) published by CBS, the the highest package after doing an MBA from Columbia Business School was offered in Consulting industry which was a whopping average median salary of USD 190,000 (INR 1.60 Cr), followed by Healthcare industry which had an average median salary of USD 170,000 (INR 1.43 Cr).

Here is the table showing top Industries Columbia Business School MBA graduates were hired for:

Columbia Business School  MBA Graduates' Top Industries (Class 2023)

Average Median Salary of CBS MBA graduate (2023)

Consulting

USD 190,000 (INR 1.60 Cr)

Technology

Not given

Financial Services

USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr)

Real Estate

USD 145,000 (INR 1.22 Cr)

Entertainment & Media

USD 130,000 (INR 1.09 Cr)

Consumer Products

USD 120,000 (INR 1.01 Cr)

Health Care 

USD 170,000 (INR 1.43 Cr)

(USD 1 = INR 84.45)

Columbia Business School Vs. The Wharton School. Which is better?

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Columbia Business School Campus Life

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
On Campus Life

Q:   Do Columbia Business School students live on campus?

A: 

First year students at Columbia Business School are required to live on campus unless there is an approval from Residential Life to commute. The students are also prohibited form living in fraternity and sorority houses.  

Q:   Does Columbia Business School have a gym?

A: 

Columbia Business School gives an utmost priority to students' wellbeing and health on campus. There is a dedicated students' health department at CBS. The fitness enthusiasts can avail the services of the Dodge Fitness Centre which is available to the CBS students at no extra cost.

Columbia Business School Notable Alumni

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Columbia University Business & Management Studies
Students Ratings & Reviews

4.6/5
Verified Icon1 Verified ReviewInfo Icon
Vibe of Campus
  • Multi-dimensional
  • Friendly
  • Academically oriented
Student Views
  • 100% students never faced discrimination in this university
Internships4
Part time work5
Post study jobs5
Quality of faculty5
Student Life5
Value for money4
Public transportation5
Safety5
Indian Food4
Permanent Immigration4
N
Nithishma Allu Verified Icon
MS in Computer Science - Batch of 2024
4.6
Columbia University: Fostering Brilliance and Innovation
Tips: Networking is the key. Make as many connections as possible. New York is an amazing place to be and make the most of it. There is a Shardarshish scholarship which waves 50% tuition fees and also numerous graduate research assistant roles available if interested.
Likes (Quality of faculty): The diversity of faculty is amazing with most of them graduating from the top universities. Their knowledge on the subject is remarkable and they challenge you to be better and work harder. They let you engage in projects and conduct many office hours for discussions
Dislikes (Internships): The coursework and the brand value added because of Columbia University is great which lands you in a good internship but there are comparatively fewer career fairs than other universities. The career advisors are super helpful in guiding and suggesting changes to resumes and cover letters.
Reviewed on 11 Feb 2024Read more
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Columbia University

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a week ago

Hii Preeti,

Basically both universities are good and have the best curriculum but it there are so many factors to make a good choice. So columbia university is a prestigious educational institute so if a student can afford the expenses then he must go for columbia university. It has best curriculum

...more

M

Muskan Yadav

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 weeks ago

Job opportunities after MBA were,

Management consulting

Finance

Operations management

Sales

Product manager etc.

A

Aparna Vinod T

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes . It is so easy to get partime job while studying at Columbia University . The university offers a wide range of job opportunities through the work-study programs, teaching roles etc. Also provides on campus jobs across  different departments, including the library and  administrative offices.

A

Aparna Vinod T

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

The documents required were,

Passport

I-20 form

Printed copies of payment confirmations

Passport-size photographs

Printed copies of payment confirmation

Copy of Columbia admission letter

Proof of relationship 

DS-160 form

A

Aparna Vinod T

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

The English proficiency exams accepted by Columbia University were,

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Pearson Test of English (PTE)

TOEIC

Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

 

A

Aparna Vinod T

Contributor-Level 6

About the author

author image
Loveleen Sharma

Study Abroad Expert

Loveleen is a seasoned content writer with 4+ years of experience, currently writing for Shiksha. When he is not writing and helping students, he can be found at the movies, reading fiction, and learning a new language.

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Columbia University
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University CityNew York, New York, USA
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116th and Broadway, New York, NY 10027

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