Columbia University’s Columbia Business School

MBA Program Stats

Academics And Programs

The MBA is a full-time program designed to be completed over four terms or 2 academic years. Students may enroll in either August or January, and regardless of which start date is chosen the MBA spans four terms and merges in the fall of the second year to complete electives as a single class.

CBS’s core curriculum builds the foundation necessary for success while electives offer insight into specialized areas of expertise. The curriculum consists of only 18 credits of required core coursework, and a minimum of 42 credits of elective courses. Versatile programs like Master Classes, the Individual, Business, and Society Curriculum, and Columbia CaseWorks all approach business education in new ways. Class sizes are rather large, 782 students this year, yet the schools’ cluster system encourages students to learn not only with but from their peers.

Beyond the classroom, CBS offers more than 75 student organizations, its renown alumni network, cutting-edge research centers, and countless events all which work in tandem preparing students for success amid uncertainty.

The paths are identical in terms of competitiveness of admissions, academic rigor, and student resources; but only students who enter in August will be able to complete a summer internship. January (J-Term) students, having completed their first-term courses in the spring, will instead complete their second-term coursework over the summer.

Students have access to numerous conferences and industry events through our partnerships with professional organizations, on campus and around New York City. Their numerous Centers and Programs offer plenty of opportunities for travel, networking, collaboration, and professional development through Columbia University’s extensive global reach. The Alumni Edge program provides additional opportunities for alumni to take courses that keep their skills sharp and maintain their leadership and marketability.

Rankings Data For Columbia

MBA Program Consideration Set

If you believe you’re a close match to this school–based on your scores, age and work experience, you could look at these other competitive full-time MBA programs as well. We list them by stretch, match, and more to consider. These options are presented on the basis of brand image and ranking status as a general guideline. These are meant to be a starting point for further exploration.

Why Students Chose

“NYC serves as one of the most prominent entertainment centers in America. Given this, there was no better place to pursue a career in Media Tech. The courses at Columbia focusing on show business, such as Media Strategy Consulting Projects, and courses analyzing the internet landscape, such as Internet Wars, caught my attention because entertainment is constantly evolving. For the past few years, streaming has been altering the way people consume content. With its trek options, conferences, and panels, and the Media Management Association, CBS offers an array of opportunities to meet with potential future employers and classmates with similar interests. Given that Columbia operates strongly in my career area, applying there was a no brainer.” Alana Blaylock (‘24)

“As a public-school educator teaching in New York City for the past five years, I have worked with a diverse population of students, families, coworkers, and administrators. This experience led me to gravitate towards equity and anti-racist work, both at a school-wide and district-wide level, because that work was the most vital in shaping me to be the best champion I could be for my students. Columbia Business School’s Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership aligned deeply with my core values, and the school’s investment in this new initiative assured me that I would be surrounded by peers and faculty also focused on promoting equity and justice in all fields.” Michael Fagan (‘24)

“For me, a huge draw to CBS was the commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion in business. I was particularly impressed that the Philipps Pathway for Inclusive Leadership programming isn’t merely recommended, it’s required for all students. As a CBS student, I feel confident that my classmates and I will leave Columbia as not only sharper businesspeople but also more inclusive leaders.” Jordan DeTar (‘24)

“Leveraging its location in NYC, I wanted to immerse myself in the epicenter of the global art world and strengthen the relationships that I already cultivated, CBS therefore was my immediate first choice. Aside from classmates and location, which truly is hard to brush aside, I was drawn to The Chazen Institute and their Global Immersion program. I hope to capitalize on the access to world class executives through the Executives in Residences Program as well as the Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization, which will provide a great introduction to the NYC startup ecosystem.” Katherine Elliott-Moskwa (‘24)

“The key parts that made me choose Columbia Business School was its location, network, and the resources the school provides to both current students and alumni. I believe I will not only benefit from school during my academic years, but even after I graduate, the school will provide me with resources. For example, Executive in Residence is one great example that both students and alumni have access.” Hamid Baraywal (‘24)

Career Stats

Columbia MBA Rankings

Essay Questions For Columbia

Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays.

Short Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Examples of possible responses:

• “Work in business development for a media company.”
• “Join a strategy consulting firm.”
• “Launch a data-management start-up.”

Essay 1

Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Essay 2 

The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a co-curricular program designed to provide students with the skills and strategies needed to develop as inclusive leaders. Through various resources and programming, the goal is for students to explore and reflect during their educational journey on the following five inclusive leadership skills:  Mitigating Bias and Prejudice; Managing Intercultural Dialogue; Addressing Systemic Inequity; Understanding 

Identity and Perspective Taking, and Creating an Inclusive Environment. 

Describe a time or situation when you had the need to utilize one or more of these five skills and tell us the actions you took and the outcome. (250 words)

Essay 3

We believe Columbia Business School is a special place. CBS proudly fosters a collaborative learning environment through curricular experiences like our clusters and learning teams, an extremely active co-curricular and student life environment, and career mentorship opportunities like our Executives-in-Residence program. 

Why do you feel Columbia Business School is a good fit for you academically, culturally, and professionally? Please be specific. (250 words)

Optional Essay

If you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the Admissions Committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 Words)