Columbia University

Overview

Columbia University, referred to as Columbia and is officially named Columbia University of the City of New York, is a private research university. One of the nine Ivy League institutions, it is also the oldest higher education institution in New York.

It was first established as King’s College by royal charter of George II of Great Britain in 1754. Its location was on the grounds of Trinity Church right in Manhattan Columbia. In 1784, it was renamed Columbia College after the American Revolution.

In 1787, the leadership was given to a private board of trustees. The board was headed by alumni John Jay and Alexander Hamilton. Afterward, in 1896, the Institution was moved to Morningside Heights where it stands today. It is also in that year it was renamed Columbia University. It is the first school in the United States to grant the M.D. degree.

Columbia University has 200 research centers and institutes. And, it has produced 84 Nobel Laureates. Moreover, the University’s faculty, alumni, and staff have been graced by five Founding Fathers, three US presidents, ten justices of the US Supreme Court, five Fields Medalists, and 33 Academy Award winners among other distinguished individuals.

Classified as an R1: Doctoral University with very high research activity, it was the home of many inventions. Laser technology and the FM radio were conceived in its halls together with the MPEG-2 algorithm and other inventions. Currently, the university boasts of producing around 400 new inventions every year. It is known for its very active lab-to-market efforts.

Popular research institutes and centers include the Zuckerman Institute for the study of the brain, Data Science Institute for the development of useful data science technologies, and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory exploring the world’s origin, evolution, and possible future states.

Columbia University offers a wide range of academic programs. These include 13 graduate and professional schools, three undergraduate schools, 25 libraries, four affiliated colleges and seminaries, and its world-renowned Irving Medical Center. Courses range from Applied Linguistics to Anthropology, and from Statistics to Sports Management.

The university is proud of its diverse academic community with thousands of students, staff, and faculty. Aside from lively arts programs, Columbia has a rich sports heritage. The University is home to the Columbia Lions, a Division I NCAA organization with 31 varsity teams.