No. The Combined Plan Committee on Admissions will review applications individually.

Yes. You are permitted to apply, and your materials will be reviewed by the Combined Plan Admissions Committee in a competitive review process.

Columbia accepts the Combined Plan application for this program. The application includes:

• Autobiographical information
• Information about a student's prerequisite coursework
• Short answers regarding interest in engineering, the Combined Plan program and Columbia

You must submit official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions that you’ve attended. Official transcripts may be emailed to [email protected] (preferred) or mailed in a signed, sealed envelope.

All recommendations from the following sources 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)

One of the requirements for guaranteed admission to the Combined Plan program is proof of English language proficiency. If your native language is not English, or the language of instruction in your secondary school was not English, you must demonstrate English language proficiency. 

The requirement may be fulfilled by obtaining a grade of B or higher in the prerequisite equivalent to English Composition (ENGL C1010 University Writing), a foundational prerequisite course noted in the Combined Plan Curriculum Guide that was issued in the year you began at your home institution [Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022]. 

Alternatively, this requirement may be fulfilled with standardized testing. If you are fulfilling the English language proficiency requirement with standardized testing, submit an official score report from the testing agency to Columbia Undergraduate Admissions. If test scores have expired, the admissions office will accept a copy of the official score report, submitted by you and certified by an official from your institution, from tests taken within the last five years. Self-reported scores will not be accepted. 

You must take all standardized test examinations no later than February 2023 for consideration for the fall of 2023.

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. Review our Application Fees and Fee Waivers page for more information.

If paying the application fee is a significant financial burden for your family, we encourage you to request an automatic fee waiver through your admission application. You can determine your fee waiver eligibility today using this form. You will also be asked to confirm your eligibility within the Combined Plan Program application. Fee waivers will be automatically applied to applications of eligible candidates.

• Early December Application available online.
• February 1 Deadline to submit application materials.
• March 1 
  Deadline to submit financial aid materials.
• Late Spring 
  Admissions decisions are released to candidates.
• August 
  New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) is held each year for incoming Combined Plan students, and it is a mandatory orientation program.

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. Applicants who attend an affiliate institution will be prioritized in the admissions 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:

1. Full-time enrollment at an accredited college or university for at least the past three years
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Three favorable recommendations: one each from your institution's Combined Plan liaison, math instructor and science instructor
5. 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
6. Completion (before entering Columbia) of the major and degree requirements prescribed by your home institution for graduation
7. Demonstration of English language proficiency as listed above
8. Confirmation of good standing at the member institution

In order to be competitive for admission, applicants should meet or exceed the recommendations outlined in 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 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023]. 

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 Combined Plan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.

• The Pre-Combined Plan Curriculum Guide outlines the necessary courses for guaranteed admission for applicants who enrolled in college in prior to Fall 2019), and course recommendations for applicants who enrolled in college in Fall 2019 and later Please review the curriculum guide issued in the fall semester of when you began at your home institution:
  • Fall 2019
  • Fall 2020
  • Fall 2021
  • Fall 2022
  • Fall 2023
• The Pre-Combined Plan Curriculum Course Descriptions document describes the content of each Columbia prerequisite course.
• The Engineering Bulletin includes specific information about Columbia Engineering academics, including courses offered in each major.

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 domestic students; financial need does not affect one's chances of admission.
• We will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted Combined Plan students.
• The Combined Plan program practices need-aware admission for all international students applying for financial aid. Financial aid for international students is limited.
  • For financial aid purposes, students are considered international applicants if they are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States and who do not have refugee visas or asylum status. Undocumented students, including DACA recipients, are considered as domestic applicants.
• Candidates are not guaranteed the same financial aid package they received at their affiliate schools.

All applicants should review our Accuracy & Authenticity statement prior to submitting their application, as all applicants to Columbia University must confirm on their application that they understand and agree to adhere to the above expectations.

For questions about undergraduate admission and the application process, please visit our online FAQs. If you still can't find your answer, please contact Columbia Undergraduate Admissions or email us at [email protected].