Columbia University is a private Ivy-League university in New York City. The main campus in Morningside Heights, Manhattan was founded with a royal charter in 1754 as King’s College, making it one of the oldest and most distinguished universities in the US. 

There are more than 26,000 students enrolled at Columbia, well over half of which are post-graduates. Few universities can afford to be as selective as Columbia, but this university easily justifies its elitism by claiming more Nobel Peace Prize winners (faculty and alumni combined) than any other institution in the world. The prestigious Pulitzer Prize is also awarded by Columbia.  

Student Life
All freshmen at Columbia University have to live on campus, but many choose to stay in campus housing beyond their first year as off-campus apartments in Manhattan are expensive. Living quarters are tight, but those who stay close to the center enjoy a range of student activities. 

Columbia University’s clubs and organizations include outstanding opportunities for aspiring journalists, actors and musicians. The Greek life here isn’t as robust as in other Ivy League schools, with the few fraternities and sororities found at Columbia tied closely to the university’s athletic programs. 

The main campus is in Morningside Heights, where the night scene couldn’t be better. Further out, Manhattan and greater New York City have more late-night activities on order than just about any other city on earth.

Diversity
Columbia University easily has the most diverse student body of the Ivy-League institutions. This is partially owed to the diversity of New York City, but the campus itself operates hundreds of clubs that foster a diverse, international atmosphere.

Columbia enrolls more than 5,000 international students, a number that doubles when you account for interns, faculty and family members. Most international students hail from China, India, Canada and France, but more than 150 countries are represented. 

The International Students and Scholars Office assists these students with questions they may have in the course of their studies, but it’s also a useful resource in helping visiting students adjust to the culture and connect with others. 

Academic Programs & Resources
Columbia University is regularly featured on “top 10” lists in the US and abroad for its academic programs. It offers a comprehensive range of coursework.

Columbia College is the central institution on campus, and it offers the university’s Bachelor of Arts degree. The School of General Studies is tailored to students with a non-traditional bent to their studies, while Barnard College is especially for women and also offers the Bachelor of Arts. Finally, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) rounds out Columbia’s educational offerings.  

Columbia University accepts fewer than 10 percent of all those who apply, with financial aid and university grants awarded to both exceptional applicants and those whose families live below a certain income threshold. 

Faculty & Staff
A prestigious school like Columbia University is bound to attract some of the world’s most accomplished faculty. There is a faculty-student ratio is six-to-one, meaning everyone who studies at Columbia receive an exceptional level of mentoring and attention. 

Nearly 100 past faculty members have received the Nobel Prize, but these are only a few of the remarkable people who have worked with the university. Columbia’s former librarian, Melvil Dewey, went on to found the Dewey Decimal System. Well-known professors at Columbia have included architect Frank Gehry, string-theory expert Brian Greene and countless others.  

Safety, Health & Wellness
The Columbia University Department of Public Safety works to balance individual rights with a need for public security. Both campus security officials and NYPD maintain a high profile around campus, and access to dormitories is restricted to those with ID cards. Emergency phones and escorts are also on site.  

Columbia promotes student wellness with world-class fitness centers and athletic facilities. A range of medical facilities are also available to students and faculty, including clinics, a pharmacy and wellness-consultation services. These are either free or heavily subsidized through tuition, but all students are required to have health insurance to cover serious emergencies.


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