Students can apply for the Combined Plan program in their junior (3-2 program) or senior (4-2) year of undergraduate study. High school students do not apply until they are enrolled in an undergraduate institution and should contact their prospective institution(s) for more information. Students who attend affiliated liberal arts schools will receive priority in admission review.

Please contact the Columbia Engineering Graduate Student Services office for more information about graduate programs in engineering.

To see if the Combined Plan program is for you, learn more about Engineering at Columbia and the Combined Plan Experience.

The Fall 2020 Application is now closed. Applications for Fall 2021 will be available in December 2020.

Application Requirements

Application

Columbia accepts the Combined Plan application. The application includes:

Autobiographical information

Information about a student's prerequisite coursework

Short answers regarding interest in engineering, the Combined Plan program and Columbia.

Transcripts

Candidates must submit official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions that they have attended. Official transcripts may be emailed to ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu(preferred) or mailed in a signed, sealed envelope.

Recommendations

All recommendations should be submitted electronically through the application system.

Combined Plan Liaison (or for candidates who attend a non-affiliate, an instructor or school official who can speak to your coursework)

Science instructor (instructor who has awarded you a final grade in a science course)

Math instructor (instructor who has awarded you a final grade in a math course)

English Language Proficiency Requirement

One of the requirements for guaranteed admission to the Combined Plan program is proof of English language proficiency. A candidate whose native language is not English and whose language of instruction in secondary school was not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Candidates must submit an official score report from the testing agency for one of the following English proficiency examinations:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): A minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 100 (Internet-based)

IELTS (International English Language Testing System): A minimum score of 7.0

SAT: A minimum score of 700 or higher on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the redesigned SAT (beginning in March 2016) or a minimum score of 650 on the Critical Reasoning or Writing sections of the SAT before March 2016

ACT: A minimum score of 29 on the English or Reading sections of the ACT

If test scores have expired, the admissions office will accept a copy of the official score report, submitted by the student and certified by an official from the applicant’s institution, from tests taken within the last five years. Self-reported scores will not be accepted.

If an applicant does not have the required standardized testing, the requirement may be fulfilled by obtaining a grade of B or higher in the prerequisite course equivalent to English Composition (ENGL C1010 University Writing), a foundational prerequisite course as noted in the Combined Plan Curriculum Guide that was issued in the year you began at your home institution [Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019].

Applicants must take all standardized test examinations no later than February 2020 for consideration for the fall of 2020.

Application Fee or Fee Waiver

An $85 nonrefundable fee is required as part of an application to Columbia University. We are unable to refund the application fee under any circumstances. Applicants must submit payment online using an electronic check or Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express credit card. Payment (or fee waiver) is due at the time that you submit your application.

Candidates requesting a fee waiver may submit documents demonstrating eligibility from your Financial Aid office via email to combinedplan@columbia.edu.

Dates and Deadlines

The Fall 2020 Combined Plan application is now closed. We encourage you to use last year's timeline as a reference.

December 2, 2019

Application available online

Application available online February 10, 2020

Deadline to submit application materials.

Deadline to submit application materials. March 1, 2020

Deadline to submit financial aid materials.

Deadline to submit financial aid materials. Late Spring 2020

Admissions decisions are released to candidates

Admissions decisions are released to candidates August 2020

New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) is held each year for incoming Combined Plan students, and it is a mandatory orientation program.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates who began at an affiliate school between Fall 2011 and Fall 2015:

To be eligible for guaranteed admission, candidates must meet the following requirements:

Full-time enrollment at an affiliated school for at least the past two years An overall GPA in accordance with the agreement that your institution has reached with Columbia. For students attending affiliates with agreements prior to 2017, an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher is required. For students attending affiliates with agreements in 2017 or later, a GPA of 3.50 is required. To determine when your institution's agreement was updated, please see the list of affiliate colleges. A pre-engineering GPA of 3.30 or higher, as calculated by Columbia. Additionally, the minimum grade for each pre-engineering science or math course must be a B (3.0) or better on the first attempt. Three favorable recommendations: one each from your institution's Combined Plan liaison, math instructor and science instructor Successful completion, by the end of the spring semester in which you are applying, of the specific prerequisite courses for your intended major as listed in the Pre-Combined Plan Curriculum Guide Completion (before entering Columbia) of the major and degree requirements prescribed by your home institution for graduation Demonstration of English language proficiency as listed above Be in good standing at the member institution. Any student who has previously been placed on academic probation or disciplinary action may apply but will not qualify for guaranteed admission.

In order to be eligible for guaranteed admission, applicants must meet the requirements from the Curriculum Guide that was issued in the fall semester they began college. Students are not subject to the changes made to Curriculum Guides issued in subsequent years. For details, please review the Curriculum Guide that was issued in the year you began college [Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019].

Candidates who do not meet the requirements for guaranteed admission, or who do not attend an affiliate institution, will be considered under competitive review. This is a holistic process that evaluates a candidate's preparation for Columbia Engineering's curriculum, fit for the university, character and recommendations, among other factors. We strongly recommend that candidates who fall under competitive review take the entire pre-engineering curriculum, as outlined in their curriculum guide, and have a 3.30 or higher overall GPA, although we welcome applications from candidates with overall GPAs above 3.0.

You should confer with the liaison at your school in order to determine which classes fulfill Columbia pre-engineering foundation and major-specific courses.

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.

Candidates who began at an affiliate school starting between Fall 2016 and Fall 2018:

To be eligible for guaranteed admission, candidates must meet the following requirements:

Full-time enrollment at an affiliated school for at least the past three years An overall GPA in accordance with the agreement that your institution has reached with Columbia. For students attending affiliates with agreements prior to 2017, an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher is required. For students attending affiliates with agreements in 2017 or later, a GPA of 3.50 is required. To determine when your institution's agreement was updated, please see the list of affiliate colleges. A pre-engineering GPA of 3.30 or higher, as calculated by Columbia. Additionally, the minimum grade for each pre-engineering science or math course must be a B (3.0) or better on the first attempt. Three favorable recommendations: one each from your institution's Combined Plan liaison, math instructor and science instructor Successful completion, by the end of the spring semester in which you are applying, of the specific prerequisite courses for your intended major as listed in the Pre-Combined Plan Curriculum Guide Completion (before entering Columbia) of the major and degree requirements prescribed by your home institution for graduation Demonstration of English language proficiency as listed above Be in good standing at the member institution. Any student who has previously been placed on academic probation or disciplinary action may apply but will not qualify for guaranteed admission.

In order to be eligible for guaranteed admission, applicants must meet the requirements from the Curriculum Guide that was issued in the fall semester they began college. Students are not subject to the changes made to Curriculum Guides issued in subsequent years. For details, please review the Curriculum Guide that was issued in the year you began college [Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019].

Candidates who do not meet the requirements for guaranteed admission, or who do not attend an affiliate institution, will be considered under competitive review. This is a holistic process that evaluates a candidate's preparation for Columbia Engineering's curriculum, fit for the university, character and recommendations, among other factors. We strongly recommend that candidates who fall under competitive review take the entire pre-engineering curriculum, as outlined in their curriculum guide, and have a 3.30 or higher overall GPA, although we welcome applications from candidates with overall GPAs above 3.0.

You should confer with the liaison at your school in order to determine which classes fulfill Columbia pre-engineering foundation and major-specific courses.

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.

Candidates who began at a non-affiliate institution in Fall 2018 or earlier:

Candidates who do not attend an affiliate institution will be considered under competitive review. This is a holistic process that evaluates a candidate's preparation for Columbia Engineering's curriculum, fit for the university, character and recommendations, among other factors. We strongly recommend that candidates who fall under competitive review take the entire pre-engineering curriculum, as outlined in their curriculum guide, and have a 3.30 or higher overall GPA, although we welcome applications from candidates with overall GPAs above 3.0.

Candidates who began at any institution starting in Fall 2019 or later:

Guaranteed admission is not available for candidates who began college, whether at an affiliate school or not, in Fall 2019 or later. All applicants who began college in Fall 2019 or later will be considered under the competitive review process. This is a holistic process that evaluates a candidate’s preparation for Columbia Engineering’s curriculum, fit for the university, character and recommendations, among other factors.

We strongly recommend that candidates review the following guidelines:

Full-time enrollment at an accredited college or university for at least the past three years An overall GPA in accordance with the agreement that your institution has reached with Columbia. An overall GPA of 3.30 or higher is highly recommended. A pre-engineering GPA of 3.30 or higher, as calculated by Columbia. Additionally, the minimum grade for each pre-engineering science or math course must be a B (3.0) or better on the first attempt. Three favorable recommendations: one each from your institution's Combined Plan liaison, math instructor and science instructor Successful completion, by the end of the spring semester in which you are applying, of the specific prerequisite courses for your intended major as listed in the Pre-Combined Plan Curriculum Guide Completion (before entering Columbia) of the major and degree requirements prescribed by your home institution for graduation Demonstration of English language proficiency as listed above Confirmation of good standing at the member institution

In order to be competitive for admission, applicants must meet the requirements from the Curriculum Guide that was issued in the fall semester they began college. Students are not subject to the changes made to Curriculum Guides issued in subsequent years. For details, please review the Curriculum Guide that was issued in the year you began college [Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019].

You should confer with the liaison at your school in order to determine which classes fulfill Columbia pre-engineering foundation and major-specific courses.

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.

Important Documents

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to our Combined Plan students. Please see our instructions for further information, including how to apply. Deadlines and documents can be found on the Financial Aid website.

The following should also be noted:

Columbia awards no merit scholarships; all financial aid is need-based only.

The Combined Plan program practices need-blind admission for all students; financial need does not affect one's chances of admission.

We do not guarantee that we can meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.

Financial aid for international students is extremely limited.

Candidates are not guaranteed the same financial aid package they received at their affiliate schools.

Accuracy and Authenticity

Note that all materials, unless otherwise stated, must be official and sent directly to the University or the University’s designated application platform from an official source (e.g., high school), not through an agent or third-party vendor, with the following exceptions: submissions by the US Department of State’s Fulbright Program and its partner agencies IIE, LASPAU, EducationUSA and AMIDEAST; submissions by the Danish-American Fulbright Commission (DAF); submissions by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD); and submissions by non-profit, community-based organizations when schools are unable to provide this information on behalf of the student. In addition, the applicant will be required to attest to the accuracy and authenticity of all information and documents submitted to Columbia. If you have any questions about this requirement, please contact Undergraduate Admissions at ugrad-ask@columbia.edu. Failure to submit complete, accurate, and authentic application documents consistent with these instructions may result in denial or revocation of admission, cancellation of academic credit, suspension, expulsion, or eventual revocation of degree. Applicants may be required to assist admissions staff and faculty involved in admission reviews in the verification of all documents and statements made in documents submitted by students as part of the application review process.

All applicants to Columbia University must confirm on their application that they understand and agree to adhere to the above expectations.

Contact

All applications should be completed online. For questions about admission and the application process, please visit our online FAQs. Any additional materials, correspondence, and questions should be sent to combinedplan@columbia.edu.