Columbia University in the City of New York

What are the graduation rates for students at Columbia University in the City of New York?

Columbia reports high completion rates for the first-time, full-time undergraduate cohorts measured in federal graduation statistics. In the reported IPEDS figures, 81% completed within four years and 96% within six years; first-year retention was 98%.

These measures follow defined student cohorts. The six-year figure does not mean every student took six years, and it should not be read as a completion rate for all transfers, part-time students, General Studies students, or graduate students. Likewise, retention measures whether students continue into the next year, not whether they eventually graduate.

For planning purposes, the difference between the four- and six-year rates matters. An additional year can affect tuition, living expenses, and the timing of work or further study. Students comparing schools should look at the same cohort definition and measurement period rather than treating one headline percentage as a universal outcome.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Columbia University in the City of New York?

Early-career earnings reported for Columbia degree programs vary substantially by field and should not be treated as a salary forecast for an applicant. College Scorecard program figures available in October 2026 describe median earnings measured about one year after completion for graduates represented in its federal-aid-based data.

For example, the reported one-year median was $108,903 for computer science and $73,902 for economics. The corresponding figure was $38,546 for philosophy. These are program-level observations for different groups of graduates, not controlled comparisons of what the same person would earn with different majors.

The measure has important limits: it excludes some graduates, reflects an early point in a career, and does not fully capture graduate study, geography, hours worked, job satisfaction, or debt. A missing or suppressed program figure should not be interpreted as zero earnings. Students can use the figures as one question to bring to career advising, alongside internship access, graduate-school plans, and the cost of their own degree.