Columbia University let the Class of 2028 know about the choices of its Early Decision candidates in mid-December 2023. A total of 6,009 students applied to Columbia College (CC) or the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) using the Ivy League school’s binding Early Decision process. After the Early Decision round, the college typically keeps its acceptance rate and demographic breakdown of admitted students private. However, we’ll provide some background to help understand Columbia’s current admissions figures.
Columbia Early Decision Admissions Statistics Over 20+ Years
The 6,009 students who applied Early Decision to Columbia’s Class of 2028 showed a great improvement for the college. Just last year, the college faced criticism for giving incorrect information to US News & World Report for its yearly ranking.
To understand the number of Early Decision applicants for Columbia’s Class of 2028 in comparison to previous years, let’s look at the school’s ED admissions numbers for the last 22 years. It wasn’t the highest number of ED applications ever, but it was a good recovery from a recent low.
| Columbia Class Year | Number of Early Decision Applications Received | Number of Early Decision Applications Accepted | Early Decision Acceptance Rate |
| Class of 2028 | 6,009 | Not Yet Released | Not Yet Released |
| Class of 2027 | 5,738 | Not Yet Released | Not Yet Released |
| Class of 2026 | 6,305 | 650 | 10.31% |
| Class of 2025 | 6,435 | 650 | 10.1% |
| Class of 2024 | 4,318 | 650 | 15.1% |
| Class of 2023 | 4,461 | 650 | 14.6% |
| Class of 2022 | 4,085 | 650 | 15.9% |
| Class of 2021 | 4,086 | 651 | 15.9% |
| Class of 2020 | 3,520 | 621 | 17.6% |
| Class of 2019 | 3,373 | 632 | 18.7% |
| Class of 2018 | 3,298 | 650 | 19.7% |
| Class of 2017 | 3,126 | 601 | 19.2% |
| Class of 2016 | 3,088 | 631 | 20.4% |
| Class of 2015 | 3,217 | 627 | 19.5% |
| Class of 2014 | 2,983 | 631 | 21.1% |
| Class of 2013 | 2,841 | 639 | 22.5% |
| Class of 2012 | 2,582 | 597 | 23.1% |
| Class of 2011 | 2,429 | 594 | 24.5% |
| Class of 2010 | 2,275 | 582 | 25.6% |
| Class of 2009 | 2,156 | 570 | 26.4% |
| Class of 2008 | 1,939 | 560 | 28.9% |
| Class of 2007 | 1,805 | 572 | 31.7% |
The Rationale for the Surge in Early Decision Applications to Columbia’s Class of 2028
The Pandemic Incubated Columbia’s Historic Early Decision Tallies
The number of students applying early to join Columbia’s Class of 2028 wasn’t the highest ever. That happened back in the Class of 2025, three years ago, when 6,435 students said they’d definitely go to Columbia if they got accepted.
That year, the pandemic had a big impact. High school seniors stayed home due to lockdowns and applied to top universities more than ever before. Why did so many apply early? Two main reasons: (1) They couldn’t delay applying because there wasn’t much else to do during lockdowns, and (2) They thought they could get in without test scores because of new test-optional policies. So, they took a chance and applied to schools that might have been out of reach.
Columbia Has Had Slight Drops After Historic Early Decision Tallies
The next Early Decision application cycle for the Class of 2026 had 6,305 applicants, which was still a success for Columbia University. However, like some other top schools, it saw slightly fewer applications compared to the previous year. But hey, it’s normal for records not to be broken every year!
Columbia’s Rankings Nosedive and Subsequent Recovery
In the Early Decision round for the Class of 2027, there were 567 fewer students who committed to attending Columbia compared to the previous year. What caused this change?
Columbia professor Michael Thaddeus pointed out that the school had reported incorrect numbers to US News for a ranking, despite the institution claiming not to prioritise such rankings—a point we at EssayEmbassy have long emphasised.
The dispute made Columbia University’s ranking in the 2023 US News list drop significantly. It went from sharing the second spot in 2022 to landing at 18th place. Basically, students were probably worried about what would happen because of the scandal and how it affected Columbia’s ranking.
Although Columbia University said it won’t participate in future US News rankings, the journal still includes the Ivy League school. Actually, Columbia’s ranking for 2024 went up a lot to 12th place. So, even though it hasn’t reached its pre-scandal rating yet, it’s getting there. This improvement in ranking is a big reason why there’s been a 271 increase in Early Decision applications this year.
Essay Embassy’s Help with Columbia University Essay
Want feedback on your Columbia University essays? It can be hard to judge your writing objectively after revising it multiple times. That’s why our team of Peer Essay assessment experts is here to help. They’re real Ivy League graduates who can evaluate your essay. Improve your writing skills by reading essays from other students.
If you’re looking for a specialist to review your essay, Essay Embassy’s expert writers have assisted students in refining their writing and submitting successful applications to top colleges. Find the ideal advisor to help you get into your dream school!
