Columbia University is one of the most recognized institutions in the United States for undergraduate and graduate studies. It opened its doors to students in 1754 as King’s College. Since then, the university has grown into a major Ivy League institution in New York City with students and scholars from around the world. Columbia’s official history notes several notable early students, including John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, and Robert R. Livingston. The university also reports that 88 Columbians have won Nobel Prizes, and Columbia News notes that 25 Columbians have won 43 Olympic and Paralympic medals.
As a highly regarded Ivy League university, Columbia can be expensive to attend. Depending on the school and program, eligible students may be able to use financial aid, grants, scholarships, fellowships, student employment, or loans, but every applicant should review the full cost of attendance before applying. This article breaks down the main study costs at Columbia University, so read carefully.
Study Costs at Columbia University
There are many different costs to consider when studying at Columbia University or any university in general. International students, in particular, need to budget for more than tuition because moving to another country can include housing, health insurance, transportation, books, supplies, and personal expenses.
Application Costs
The undergraduate application fee is $85. At the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the application fee listed for the 2027 online application is $125. These fees are generally nonrefundable, although fee waivers may be available for eligible applicants. Applicants should pay the required fee or request a waiver through the appropriate admissions process because an application may not be considered complete until the payment or waiver issue is resolved.
Tuition Costs
The total tuition costs at Columbia University vary by school, program, and enrollment status. Students should also budget for required fees. For 2026–2027, Columbia College lists mandatory fees of $3,430 for the academic year, and nonresident visa holders are charged an international services charge of $175 per term. At GSAS, full-time MA students in many programs are charged a Student Services and Support Fee of $703 per term. These amounts can change, so students should review the latest official tuition and fee page for their specific school before applying.
Bachelor’s Tuition Costs
For Columbia College undergraduates, tuition for the 2026–2027 academic year is $72,800, or $36,400 per term. Columbia College estimates total nine-month expenses at $99,044 plus travel, including tuition, mandatory fees, average room and board, books, and personal expenses. Most bachelor’s programs are designed to be completed over four years, although the exact timeline and costs can vary by school, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
Master’s Tuition Costs
At the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, full-time MA tuition for 2026–2027 varies by program. For example, the full-residence-unit tuition is $38,106 per semester for All Other MA Programs, $43,578 per semester for the MA in Biotechnology, $47,068 per semester for the MA in Economics, and $48,964 per semester for the MA in Mathematics of Finance and MA in Statistics. These figures are tuition only and do not include fees, health insurance, housing, food, books, transportation, or personal expenses.
Ph.D. Tuition Costs
At GSAS, doctoral tuition for the 2026–2027 academic year is $29,272 per semester for a Residence Unit of 20 points or fewer. Students registered for more than 20 points are charged an additional $2,560 per point beyond 20 points. Other doctoral registration categories have different rates, such as Extended Residence and Matriculation and Facilities, so Ph.D. students should check the official schedule for their program and funding package.
Other Academic Costs at Columbia University
Other costs that international students may need to anticipate include accommodation in New York City, transportation to and from the university, books and supplies, health insurance, general living expenses, well-being, and extracurricular activities.
Books and Miscellaneous
Although many course materials are now available online, students may still need to buy books, subscriptions, software, lab materials, or other supplies. Some materials may be available through the library or in used and digital formats, but students should still plan for required course materials.
For 2026–2027, Columbia College includes books and personal expenses in its $3,164 estimate for the academic year. GSAS estimates books and supplies at $1,290 for the nine-month academic year. Actual costs vary by program and course selection.
Accommodation and Transportation
New York City is expensive for housing and transportation, so students should compare on-campus, Columbia-affiliated, and off-campus options carefully. For 2026–2027, Columbia College estimates average room and board at $19,650 for the academic year, while GSAS estimates housing at $17,100 and food at $8,388 over nine months. For transit, the MTA subway and local bus fare is $3 for most riders, and OMNY has a weekly fare cap of $35 for subway and local bus rides.
You may be able to reduce commuting time and costs by living closer to campus. Campus or Columbia Residential housing may be available depending on your school and eligibility, but some applicants are placed on a housing waitlist and assigned only as vacancies become available.
Living Expenses
Living expenses in New York City can be high, so students should build a realistic budget. For GSAS students, Columbia estimates 2026–2027 indirect costs of $31,773 for nine months, including housing, food, personal expenses, books and supplies, and transportation. This works out to about $3,530 per month over a nine-month academic year, before any additional medical, travel, family, program-specific, or lifestyle expenses.
Here, we come to the end of the article about the cost of studying at Columbia University and living in New York City for international students. These numbers may sound high, but many students use a combination of financial aid, fellowships, student employment, family support, savings, or loans, depending on their school, degree level, and eligibility.
We hope this article about the cost of studying at Columbia University was informative and helpful. If you are interested, feel free to visit our Study in the USA Page and Available Programs for International Students!
