ACT Score Needed To Get Into Columbia 2026

Feb 22

International Applicants: The Bar Is Even Higher

If you're an international student, the reality is sobering: Columbia's acceptance rate for international applicants is roughly half that of domestic applicants (2.6% vs 4.4% for Class of 2028).

Why this matters for testing:

International admits face exponentially more competition for limited spots
Many successful international applicants present 35-36 ACT scores as part of near-perfect overall profiles
A 34 ACT, while competitive for domestic students with strong hooks, may read as "weak" in the ultra-competitive international pool
Columbia is need-aware for international students, adding another layer of selectivity

Additional consideration: International applicants from non-English-speaking backgrounds must also demonstrate English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS). A strong ACT English subscore (35-36) can reinforce language capability while demonstrating academic strength.

Our international clients typically target 35+ ACT or equivalent SAT scores as a baseline, understanding that the global competition demands near-perfection across all application components.Columbia University stands as one of America's most selective institutions, with acceptance rates hovering around 3-4% in recent cycles. If you're targeting Columbia, you're probably asking the critical question: what ACT score do I actually need?

The short answer: 34-35 is Columbia's middle 50% range for admitted students who submit scores. But that simple statistic barely scratches the surface of what you need to understand about how ACT scores actually function in Columbia's admissions process.

Let's dig into the data.

ACT Score Needed To Get Into Columbia University (2025 Data)

Columbia University stands as one of America's most selective institutions, with acceptance rates hovering around 3-4% in recent cycles. If you're targeting Columbia, you're probably asking the critical question: what ACT score do I actually need?

Let's dig into the data.

Columbia's Test-Optional Reality (And Why Scores Still Matter)

Since 2021, Columbia has operated under a test-optional policy. In March 2023, they became the first Ivy League school to announce permanent test-optional admissions, explicitly stating that "students who choose not to submit test scores will not be at a disadvantage in our process."

Here's what that means in practice:

Only 23-29% of admitted students now submit ACT scores (down from near-universal submission pre-2020)
Those who do submit scores are highly self-selected – they're submitting because their scores are exceptional
Columbia admitted roughly one-third of recent classes without any standardized test scores

Does this mean scores don't matter? Not exactly.

For students who submit ACT scores, the bar is extraordinarily high. 99% of Columbia's ACT submitters scored between 30-36, with the vast majority clustered in the 34-36 range. The median admitted ACT composite is approximately 35.

If you have a strong score (34+), submitting it reinforces your academic profile. If your score is below Columbia's typical range, you're probably better off going test-optional and letting your transcript, research, and accomplishments speak for themselves.

The ACT Score Distribution: 34, 35, or 36?

Here's where the data gets interesting – and where most generic college counseling advice falls apart.

ACT 34: The Baseline

A 34 ACT places you at roughly the 25th percentile among Columbia's score-submitters. Translation: 75% of admitted students who submit ACT scores have a 34 or higher.

What this means for you:

A 34 is competitive, but you're at the lower end of Columbia's admitted range
You'll need exceptionally strong academics elsewhere (transcript rigor, grades, research) to compensate
A 34 alone won't distinguish you – your essays, recommendations, and achievements become even more critical
Below 34, you should seriously consider going test-optional unless you have significant hooks

One admissions expert we consulted noted: "A 34 represents the bare minimum for competitive submission at Columbia. It won't hurt you, but it won't help much either."

ACT 35: The Sweet Spot

A 35 places you right at Columbia's median for admitted score-submitters.

What this means for you:

You've cleared the academic hurdle – admissions officers will view your score as "in range"
Moving from 34 to 35 provides a marginal benefit, but far less than moving from 30 to 34
Beyond this point, your differentiation comes from the holistic factors: intellectual curiosity, research quality, essay strength, recommendation depth

ACT 36: The Top Quartile

Approximately 25% of Columbia's ACT submitters score a perfect 36. It's undeniably impressive, but offers limited marginal advantage over a 35.

What this means for you:

A 36 confirms you're in Columbia's top academic tier
It does not guarantee admission – plenty of 36-scorers are rejected every cycle
The difference between a 35 and 36 in admissions impact is negligible compared to the difference between your essays, research quality, or letters of recommendation

One of our clients with a 36 ACT was initially rejected, while another with a 34 (but groundbreaking computer science research published in a peer-reviewed journal) was admitted. The difference? The depth and authenticity of their technical work.

Section Scores: Where Columbia Actually Cares

Columbia doesn't just look at your composite. The section score breakdown reveals something important about Columbia's priorities:

ACT English and Reading (Verbal Sections):

Middle 50% range: 35-36
75% of admitted students scored 35 or higher in ACT English
Virtually all successful applicants excel in verbal reasoning

ACT Math:

Middle 50% range: 32-35
Shows more variability than English
91% scored 30-36 (meaning 9% had Math scores in the mid-to-high 20s)

What this tells us:

Columbia places strong emphasis on verbal and critical reading ability, reflecting its famous Core Curriculum's focus on literature, philosophy, and humanities texts. Even STEM applicants need to demonstrate sophisticated reading and writing skills.

The relatively wider spread in Math scores (compared to English) suggests Columbia will occasionally overlook a less-than-perfect quantitative score if other strengths compensate, particularly for Columbia College (liberal arts) applicants.

Important caveat: If you're applying to Columbia Engineering, you should absolutely aim for a high Math subscore (ideally 34+). Engineering admissions reviewers will expect quantitative strength.

Columbia does not superscore the ACT (they consider your highest single sitting), so all four section scores from your best test date matter.

How ACT Scores Actually Function in Columbia's Holistic Review

Here's what most college counseling firms won't tell you: at the 34+ level, ACT score differences have minimal impact on admissions outcomes.

Columbia's admissions process is genuinely holistic. The admissions office explicitly states: "There are no formulas for success or cut-offs used to admit candidates." Every application receives multiple reads, and contextual factors matter enormously:

Family circumstances and responsibilities
School and community resources
Systemic barriers or advantages
Quality of available courses and academic opportunities

In Columbia's highly contextual review, a 34 from a student who overcame significant obstacles may be viewed more favorably than a 36 from a student with every advantage.

What this means practically:

Once you're within Columbia's score range (34+), the admissions decision hinges on:

Academic depth beyond testing: Course rigor, grades in challenging classes, independent research, competition results
Intellectual contribution: What unique perspective or capability you bring to Columbia's academic community
Impact and initiative: Meaningful achievements that demonstrate your potential to contribute
Authentic fit: Your essays and recommendations revealing genuine intellectual curiosity and alignment with Columbia's culture

We've seen students with 34 ACT scores gain admission based on exceptional computational biology research, while students with 36 ACT scores were denied due to generic extracurricular profiles and unmemorable essays.

Strategic Guidance: Should You Submit Your ACT Score?

Here's our framework for Cosmic clients:

Submit your ACT if:

You scored 34 or above – this places you in or above Columbia's middle 50% and reinforces your academic readiness
Your section scores are balanced (no major red flags like a 27 Math for an Engineering applicant)
Your score aligns with your transcript (if you have straight A's in advanced math but a 28 ACT Math, that discrepancy needs explanation)

Consider going test-optional if:

You scored 33 or below – unless you have significant hooks or extraordinary circumstances, these scores fall below Columbia's typical range
Your section scores are highly unbalanced in ways that contradict your intended major or academic story
Your transcript, course rigor, and other academic achievements (AP/IB scores, research, competitions) already demonstrate top-tier intellectual capability

Remember: Test-optional means genuinely optional. Columbia has admitted thousands of students without test scores since 2021. If your ACT doesn't strengthen your profile, don't submit it.

Beyond the Numbers: What Actually Gets You Into Columbia

1. Genuine Research and Technical Depth

Not "volunteered in a lab" or "attended a research program." We mean published papers, competition results, novel contributions to their field. Columbia wants students who will contribute to its research mission from day one.

2. Demonstrated Intellectual Curiosity

Your essays and supplementals need to reveal authentic engagement with ideas. Columbia's "Why Columbia?" and "Why this major?" questions aren't looking for generic praise, they want to see you've engaged deeply with specific faculty work, research centers, or curricular offerings.

3. Impact That Goes Beyond Resume Padding

Columbia values students who create meaningful change in their communities. This doesn't mean founding 15 clubs, it means depth over breadth, measurable impact over title accumulation.

4. Stellar Recommendations

Your teachers need to articulate specific examples of your intellectual contributions, not generic praise. The best recommendations describe classroom moments where you pushed discussions forward, novel approaches you took to problems, or independent work that exceeded expectations.

At Cosmic College Consulting, we help academically driven students build application strategies that go beyond test scores. If you're targeting Columbia or other highly selective schools, schedule a consultation with an admissions expert to discuss how we can help you present your strongest possible candidacy.

Let's Talk