Columbia College and Columbia Engineering Transfer Admission (fall 2027)

Columbia University (Columbia College and Columbia Engineering)

Deadline: March 1, 2027

Amount

100% of demonstrated need met for all admitted transfers

Location

New York, NY

Cost

Free to apply with a fee waiver, otherwise $85

Class level

Community college, Freshman, Sophomore

Minimum GPA

3.5

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering admit about 125 transfer students each year from two-year and four-year colleges. Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted transfer student, with need-based aid only.

Why it matters

Undocumented and DACA students are read need-blind and get their full need covered by Columbia funds, and international students can also apply for aid, right here in New York City.

Who can apply

U.S. citizensGreen-card holdersDACA / TPSUndocumented studentsInternational students (F-1 and other visas)Refugees and asylees

Columbia's International Financial Aid page says citizens, permanent residents, refugees, DACA recipients and undocumented students are read need-blind, and that Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated need for first-year and transfer students regardless of citizenship status, covering undocumented and international students with institutional funds. The transfer page adds that aid for foreign (international) students is awarded on an extremely limited basis, so admission is need-aware for them.

Eligibility

You need 24 points of credit (one year of full-time study) completed or in progress by enrollment, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Columbia expects a minimum 3.5 GPA, and students with more than four semesters of college are not encouraged to apply. Admission is fall only and very competitive (fewer than 10% admitted).

What you need

• 24 credits completed or in progress
• Two recommendations from college professors
• College and high school transcripts
• Transfer essay of 400–600 words
• $85 fee or fee waiver

How to apply

Apply through the Coalition Application on Scoir with the Columbia Supplement and a 400–600 word transfer essay, and submit the financial aid application by March 1.

March 1, 2027 for the application and the financial aid application, fall 2027 entry only. Decisions by June 1.