Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (2024)

What are Columbia University, School of General Studies's average ACT scores and GPA? In this guide, we'll discuss what scores are needed for you to get admitted into Columbia University, School of General Studies. You'll also get to calculate your own chances with our admissions calculator.

Location: New York, NY

Columbia University, School of General Studies Admissions Statistics

There are three critical numbers when considering your admissions chances: ACT scores, GPA, and acceptance rate. All these combine to tell you what you scores are required to get into Columbia University, School of General Studies.


Average ACT: 33

The average ACT score composite at Columbia University, School of General Studies is a 33.

Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (1)

The 25th percentile ACT score is 32, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34.

In other words, a 32 places you below average, while a 34 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute ACT requirement at Columbia University, School of General Studies, but they really want to see at least a 32 to have a chance at being considered.


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Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (3)

Average GPA: 3.83

The average GPA at Columbia University, School of General Studies is 3.83. This makes Columbia University, School of General Studies Extremely Competitive for GPAs.

Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (4)

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.83, Columbia University, School of General Studiesrequires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. You'll need mostly A's, ideally with several AP or IB classes to help show your preparation at a college level.

If you're a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change from this point on. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.83, you'll need a higher ACT score to compensate and show that you're prepared to take on college academics. This will help you compete effectively with other applicants.

Admissions Rate: 29.6%

The acceptance rate at Columbia University, School of General Studies is 29.6%. In other words, of 100 students who apply, 30 are admitted.

Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (5)

This means the school isquite selective. If you have strong academic scores, you have a great shot at getting in.

Final Admissions Verdict

Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (6)

Because this school is quite selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission. If you're able to score a 34 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in. But if you get a 32 ACT or below, it'll be a steep uphill battle for you to get admitted.


Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (7)
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Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (8)


Admissions Calculator

What are your chances of admission at Columbia University, School of General Studies?

Chances of admission with these scores:

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.

Pick your test:ACT

ACT Score

Your GPA

Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:

  • 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
  • 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
  • 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
  • 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
  • 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Try to take your current ACT score and add 4 points to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

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Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (9)


Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Columbia University, School of General Studies, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Columbia University, School of General Studies.


Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (10)

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average ACT scores than Columbia University, School of General Studies. If you improve your ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School NameLocationSAT AvgACT Avg
Columbia UniversityNew York, NY152435
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA150034
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ151834
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI149334

Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (11)

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Columbia University, School of General Studies, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

School NameLocationSAT AvgACT Avg
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA143533
Tufts UniversityMedford, MA146533
Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA139533
Boston UniversityBoston, MA141832
Binghamton UniversityBinghamton, NY137531
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY139631
Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY135231

Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (12)

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Columbia University, School of General Studies, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Columbia University, School of General Studies is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

School NameLocationSAT AvgACT Avg
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY139330
United States Military AcademyWest Point, NY133130
University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst, MA135830
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY131029

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.


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Columbia University, School of General Studies ACT Scores and GPA (2024)

FAQs

What GPA do you need for Columbia school of General Studies? ›

GPA. Although no minimum GPA is required for admission, if a student has recently been enrolled in a college or university, it is expected that he or she will have performed very well (an A average or 3.7 - 3.8 GPA).

Is Columbia school of General Studies hard to get into? ›

The acceptance rate at Columbia University, School of General Studies is 29.6%. For every 100 applicants, 30 are admitted. This means the school is very selective.

What is the lowest GPA Columbia accepted? ›

Columbia is a very competitive university. About 4% of its applicants are accepted each year. But their lowest consideration as to GPA is 3.9–4.0.

What is the lowest ACT score to get into Columbia University? ›

The 25th percentile ACT score is 34, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35. In other words, a 34 places you below average, while a 35 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute ACT requirement at Columbia University, but they really want to see at least a 34 to have a chance at being considered.

Is Columbia school of General Studies an Ivy League? ›

About the School of General Studies

In fact, Columbia is the only Ivy League university with a freestanding college in which nontraditional students are fully integrated into the undergraduate curriculum.

Can I get into Columbia with a 3.1 GPA? ›

Applicants' GPA when applying to Columbia should ideally be between 3.9 and 4.0 to be strong candidates.

What is the difference between Columbia University and Columbia General Studies? ›

At Columbia College, Columbia Engineering and Barnard College, students usually come directly from high school and attend full-time. The School of General Studies is Columbia's college for nontraditional students who want to earn a degree while attending full- or part-time.

Is Columbia GS respected? ›

Columbia School of General Studies is the most prestigious and most competitive of all the undergraduate degrees for non traditional students in the US.

How many GS students are at Columbia? ›

Columbia University School of General Studies
Coat of arms
MottoLux in Tenebris Lucet
Established1947
DeanLisa Rosen-Metsch
Students2,603 (Fall 2019)
7 more rows

Can I get into Columbia with 2.8 GPA? ›

Please note that Columbia does not have a "cut-off" GPA or test score for applicants. Admission for transfer students is also highly selective. Over the past decade, the Committee has admitted between 5% and 10% of transfer applicants each year.

Does Columbia care about GPA? ›

Columbia is test-optional and does not have a "cut-off" GPA or test score for admission, and academics are considered alongside the full application.

What type of students does Columbia look for? ›

Columbia values students who are passionate about their interests and engaged in their communities. Whether it's through extracurricular activities, volunteering, internships, or research opportunities, demonstrating that you have a curious and engaged mind is essential.

Should I submit a 33 ACT to Columbia? ›

Columbia University does not specify ACT score requirements or cutoffs. The University explicitly emphasizes a holistic approach to admissions. While there isn't a specific score requirement, the average ACT score of applicants admitted to Columbia University is around 35, which is an extremely high score.

Can I get into Columbia with a 31 ACT? ›

Average ACT: 33

There's no absolute ACT requirement at Columbia University, School of General Studies, but they really want to see at least a 32 to have a chance at being considered.

Why does Columbia have such a low acceptance rate? ›

The Columbia acceptance rate is so low in part due to the college's prestige and resources. Columbia boasts a robust research program, as well as numerous notable alumni. Many students are interested in Columbia's programs of study and faculty, making the Columbia University admissions process extremely competitive.

What is the minimum GPA for University of Columbia? ›

Final Admissions Verdict

If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration. To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1560 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.15 GPA or higher.

What GPA does BC accept? ›

With a GPA of 3.99, Boston College requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.

What is the difference between Columbia College and Columbia General Studies? ›

At Columbia College, Columbia Engineering and Barnard College, students usually come directly from high school and attend full-time. The School of General Studies is Columbia's college for nontraditional students who want to earn a degree while attending full- or part-time.

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