Columbia University’s Economics department has a 30% acceptance rate, making it one of the most selective economics programs in the country. If you want to study economics at Columbia, you’ll need to be prepared for a highly competitive application process, but if you’re willing to put in the work and meet the minimum requirements, it could be worth it!
Columbia Ma Economics Acceptance Rate
Introduction
If you’re applying to Columbia University’s Masters in Economics program, you probably have a few questions. Will your background and test scores be enough to get accepted? What is the acceptance rate and how do you stack up against it? And what are Columbia’s policies on things that are important to you, like part-time study, online courses, and international students? Fortunately for both prospective students and their parents, we’re here to answer all those questions (and more). Here is everything you need to know about Columbia’s Master of Arts in Economics degree program.
Admission to the MA program is highly competitive.
Admissions to the MA program is highly competitive. The average GPA of applicants was 3.7 and the average GRE score was 165 (verbal), 100, and 710 for the three sections respectively. Most candidates were from top universities in their native countries or from Ivy League schools in the United States.
Applicants from India had an average TOEFL score of 286; however, most international students had a TOEFL score above 300 points, which makes them eligible to apply for financial aid as graduate students. The highest score reported by an Indian applicant was a 352 out of 400!
The minimum IELTS score required by Columbia University for admission is 7; however, most international students scored above 7 with very few reporting scores below 7 in any section except writing where the lowest reported was 6.
The vast majority of accepted MA candidates are recent college graduates.
The majority of MA students at Columbia are recent college graduates. Many have had a few years of work experience (up to 10), and some have had graduate education before starting the program. Some candidates do not hold a BA degree but may still be eligible to apply if they have an appropriate non-traditional background, such as significant work experience or community service.
You should apply only if you plan to pursue the MA degree full-time.
You should apply only if you plan to pursue the MA degree full-time. Most students enroll in the program for one academic year, but some take longer or shorter terms depending on their personal situation. You will also need to be available for study sessions outside of class time and be able to devote yourself fully to your studies.
You must have a BA or equivalent degree prior to starting the MA program.
You must have a BA or equivalent degree prior to starting the MA program.
You can earn a BA or equivalent degree in many ways. Some examples include:
- Completing a 4-year undergraduate program at an accredited university, such as Columbia College or Barnard College.
- Obtaining an associate’s degree and then going on to earn your bachelor’s degree in two years at CCNY, SUNY Stony Brook, or one of many other options around the country.
If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program that is not listed above (for example, if you are pursuing an AA from a community college), please consult with us before applying for admission so that we can help guide your coursework and ensure that it meets our standards for admission into our program.
Students admitted to the MA program earn an MA in Economics, not an MSc.
To clarify, the MA is not a master’s degree in economics. It is a terminal degree that students earn after their first year of study. Students who wish to continue their studies and pursue a PhD must apply separately; acceptance rates are lower for this program. The Master of Science (MSc) is offered through the School of Arts & Sciences and the New York City campus, but there is no formal connection between these programs and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business (GSB).
The GSB offers several other master’s programs related to finance—including an Advanced Certificate in Financial Engineering, an MSc in Finance with concentrations in Corporate Finance or Risk Management/Portfolio Management, and dual degrees combining business administration with science or technology fields—but none specifically titled “Master of Science.”
We do not offer a terminal Masters degree.
Columbia does not offer a terminal Masters degree. We only offer our MA in Economics and Business (the MBA) as a terminal degree.
There are other reasons why students may choose to apply to graduate programs at Columbia, such as the fact that we have one of the most well-respected economics departments in the country, but one thing we don’t do is offer students who have graduated from undergraduate programs elsewhere with their BA or BS degrees a chance to get their MA here.
If you are thinking about pursuing a PhD, please consider our PhD program instead.
If you are thinking about pursuing a PhD, please consider our PhD program instead. Our PhD program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to engage in the study of economic theory, statistical analysis, and econometrics at an advanced level. In addition to rigorous coursework, students will be involved in independent research projects under the guidance of faculty advisors who specialize in their area of interest. Students may choose from several areas of specialization: macroeconomic theory; monetary economics and finance; public economics; industrial organization (IO); international business (IB); microeconomics; labor economics; health economics; law and economics (LE); international development studies (IDS).
If you have questions about which program is right for you, please email us at admissions@econ.columbia.edu
If you have questions about which program is right for you, please email us at admissions@econ.columbia.edu
If you have questions about the application process, please email us at admissions@econ.columbia.edu
The GRE is required for admission to the MA program.
The GRE is required for admission to the MA program. Students can take either the General Test or the Subject Test in Economics.
- The Subject Test in Economics is only required if you completed fewer than 30 semester hours of coursework that count toward an undergraduate degree in economics from an accredited institution within two years prior to submitting your application. If you have more than 30 such semester hours, there is no need for a subject test score.
- The University requires a minimum score of 154 on each section of the General Test and a combined score of 300 points (out of 800)
The TOEFL or IELTS is required for all non-native English speakers and is part of the application process for both programs (MA and PhD).
The TOEFL or IELTS is required for all non-native English speakers and is part of the application process for both programs (MA and PhD). All applicants to either program will be required to submit their results as part of their application.
If you have already taken one of these tests, your official score report(s) must be submitted with your application by the appropriate deadline listed below:
- September 1, 2020 – Applications submitted through UCAS or another centralized application system (i.e., ApplyTexas, Common Application) can request that ETS send a copy of your TOEFL scores directly to Columbia University in order to streamline your application process and avoid having to mail copies yourself.
- January 15th – Mailing test scores directly via postal service or courier/FedEx/DHL Express services do not meet this requirement as they will not arrive on time for review by our Admissions Committee before our final decision date which occurs prior
to publication deadlines (i.e., February 18th).
The requirement does not apply to students educated in countries listed as “English Speaking Countries” by Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United Kingdom).
- You’ll need to provide evidence that you have a degree from an English-speaking country.
- If you don’t have a degree from an English speaking country, then you should still apply as long as your undergraduate institution’s language of instruction is English or can be demonstrated through TOEFL or IELTS scores.
You should be aware of Columbia’s policies before measuring your chances with their admissions process
Before you begin to measure your chances, you should be aware of Columbia’s admissions policies. Columbia is a very selective school and has an extremely competitive admissions process. It is not easy to gain admission as it relies on SAT/ACT scores and high school grades to determine its students’ acceptance rate.
If you have the right qualifications and submit an outstanding application, it can definitely help improve your chances of getting into Columbia College-New York City or any other branch campus in New York City (e.g., School of General Studies).
Conclusion
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