Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering reports a middle 50% SAT of 1510 to 1560 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 median 1540; 50% submitted SAT). We use 1540 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1510 to 1560 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 median 1540; 50% submitted SAT) |
| Acceptance rate | 4.9% (fall 2025, 59,611 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Optional (required starting the 2027-28 cycle) |
| Type | Private university |
Source: Columbia official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Columbia stays optional through 2026-27 but requires testing starting the 2027-28 cycle.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia College and Columbia Engineering | 1510 to 1560 | 4.9% |
| Cornell University | 1490 to 1550 | 8.4% |
| New York University | 1480 to 1550 | 9.1% |
| Binghamton University | 1320 to 1480 | 37.3% |
| Stony Brook University | 1350 to 1470 | 48.2% |
| Fordham University | 1355 to 1470 | 47% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for New York Colleges.
New York has no SAT-cutoff state scholarship; score-tied money comes from competitive campus merit awards like UB's Presidential Scholarship and from HESC's Regents-based Scholarships for Academic Excellence.
University at Buffalo Presidential Scholarship: $15,000/year for NY residents, up to $22,000/year for out-of-state or international students, through the Honors College, capped at cost of attendance.
NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence: $1,500 or $500 a year for up to 4 years at a NYS college, based on high-school nomination from Regents performance.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our New York SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pennsylvania | 1510 to 1560 |
| Rice University | Texas | 1510 to 1560 |
| Vanderbilt University | Tennessee | 1510 to 1560 |
| Duke University | North Carolina | 1510 to 1570 |
A score that is competitive at Columbia lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1510 to 1560. A score at or above 1560 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1510 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Columbia lists its policy as: Optional (required starting the 2027-28 cycle). Check the official admissions page for your entry term before choosing test dates.
4.9% (fall 2025, 59,611 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for Columbia? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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