Transfer to Columbia University: The 3-2 Combined Plan 

Are you a liberal arts college student planning to transfer to Columbia University? If yes, you may be interested in Columbia Engineering’s Combined Plan Program. This pathway allows students to combine a liberal arts education with an engineering degree at Columbia. The 3-2 option can feel like a lesser-known route because students usually apply after enrolling at an undergraduate institution.

Let’s take a closer look at what this program entails and who is eligible to apply.

3-2 Combined Plan Program: Transfer to Columbia University

The Combined Plan Program is a transfer pathway between Columbia University’s School of Engineering and liberal arts colleges. Columbia says the program is usually completed as a 3-2 sequence: three years in a liberal arts curriculum and two years in Columbia Engineering. It may also be completed as a 4-2 sequence: four years in a liberal arts curriculum and two years in Columbia Engineering. After completing the program, students receive two bachelor’s degrees: a B.A. degree in a liberal arts field and a B.S. degree in an engineering discipline from Columbia.

The program is designed for students who want both a liberal arts and engineering education. For students at liberal arts colleges that do not offer engineering degrees, the Combined Plan can provide a way to complete prerequisite coursework at their home institution before studying engineering at Columbia.

Columbia’s current policy is important to note: guaranteed admission is not available for candidates who began college in Fall 2019 or later, whether or not they attend an affiliate school. These applicants are considered through a competitive, holistic review process. Students from affiliated institutions receive priority in the admissions process, and Columbia states that there are no quotas for the number of Combined Plan students admitted.

General Requirements for the 3-2 Combined Plan Program

According to Columbia Engineering, applicants who began college in Fall 2019 or later are reviewed competitively. Columbia strongly recommends that candidates meet the following guidelines:

1. Full-time enrollment at an accredited college or university for at least the past three years
2. An overall GPA that follows the agreement between the student’s institution and Columbia; an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher is highly recommended
3. A pre-engineering GPA of 3.30 or higher, as calculated by Columbia, and a minimum grade of B (3.0) or better on the first attempt in each pre-engineering science or math course
4. Three favorable recommendations: one each from the Combined Plan liaison, a math instructor, and a science instructor
5. Successful completion, by the end of the spring semester in which the student applies, of the specific prerequisite courses for the intended Columbia Engineering major
6. Completion, before entering Columbia, of the major and degree requirements prescribed by the student’s home institution for graduation
7. Demonstration of English language proficiency, when required. Columbia states that this may be fulfilled through a B or higher in the prerequisite equivalent to English Composition or through standardized testing. Columbia’s current undergraduate English proficiency minimums include TOEFL iBT 105 or IELTS 7.5.
8. Confirmation of good standing at the member institution

List of Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges with Columbia University

Many liberal arts colleges have an affiliation agreement with Columbia’s Combined Plan Program. Students from these affiliated liberal arts colleges are prioritized in the admissions process. Students who do not attend an affiliate school may still apply, but their applications are reviewed through the competitive review process.

Pros of 3-2 Combined Plan Program

1. A liberal arts education can help students build writing, critical thinking, and communication skills before entering Columbia’s rigorous engineering curriculum. Since liberal arts colleges often have smaller classes, students may also have more direct interaction with professors.
2. Columbia Engineering offers access to research, student life, academic advising, career resources, and engineering-focused student organizations.
3. The 3-2 Combined Plan may be less expensive than spending all undergraduate years at Columbia, but this depends heavily on the student’s scholarships, financial aid, and costs at the home institution.
4. It can provide another pathway for students who were not admitted to Columbia as first-year applicants.

Cons of 3-2 Combined Plan

1. Students usually study for an extra year compared with a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree.
2. The 3-2 Combined Plan may be more expensive for students with little to no scholarship or financial aid support because students must pay for the additional year of study.
3. Students may not want to leave their college after their junior year to transfer to another university. Some students who initially plan to transfer later choose to remain at their home institutions.

Financial Aid Available for Combined 3-2 Plan Students

Columbia does not award merit-based institutional scholarships for undergraduate students; its financial aid is need-based. For Combined Plan students, Columbia states that financial aid is available, that the program is need-blind for domestic students, and that Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted Combined Plan students. International applicants who apply for financial aid are reviewed under a need-aware process, and international financial aid is limited. Candidates are not guaranteed the same financial aid package they received at their affiliate schools.

The 3-2 Combined Plan Program can be a strong opportunity for students aiming to obtain two bachelor’s degrees, especially those who hope to study engineering at Columbia. Review Columbia’s current requirements carefully, plan your prerequisite courses early with your school’s liaison, and submit all required documents by the stated deadlines.

We hope this article on the 3-2 Combined Plan was helpful. Check out the Guide to Studying in the US and Available Programs for International Students for more study options!