FAQs about the MS Programs

All MS programs are eligible for the STEM OPT extension.

The MS programs only have a fall admission cycle.

The Columbia Business School's MS programs do not offer a distance-learning, or part-time study program. Our program requires a full-time, in-residence commitment.

Applicants are welcome to apply to other programs outside the Business School within Columbia University. However, you are NOT permitted to apply to more than one program at the Business School during the same admissions cycle. Please understand that each program will have a separate application, fee, and review committee. 

Unsure which MS program is the best fit for you? Connect with a MS admissions officer here.

You may NOT apply to multiple programs at the Business School during the same admissions cycle. However, you are welcome to apply to other programs at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the larger University as well. Applicants must complete the application requirements for each school.

Unsure which MS program is the best fit for you? Connect with a MS admissions officer here.

The MS programs do not allow for transfer students from other Master's or Bachelor's degree programs.

We do accept applications from candidates with three-year undergraduate degrees. In some instances, applicants who hold three-year degrees demonstrate exceptional academic performance and strong professional promise may be offered admission.

While it is not required for application or admission, we do find that some work or internship experience has proven valuable for the past applicants of the program.

The Financial Aid page publishes information on scholarships, tuition rate, budget, and available loans here.

Materials that are not in English must be transcribed by an official and notarized transcription agency. Columbia Business School does not provide referrals to such agencies. A WES evaluation of your transcript is not required.

Our application system requires a letter writer's email address. You can input an Interfolio-generated email address in place of your letter writer’s email. This will allow Interfolio to upload the letter directly to the application, without bothering your letter writer. Interfolio refers to these as Online Application Deliveries.

Check the documents in your Interfolio Dossier to make sure your letter writer has uploaded a letter to your account. Letters that have not been received cannot be used in an online application delivery, so they won't have a Document Email address yet.

• Locate the document you’d like to upload, and click the title to find the Document Email address.
• Select and Copy the Document Email address.
• In your online application, paste the document email address in place of your recommender's email to direct the letter request to Interfolio, rather than your letter writer.

Repeat the same process for each letter you would like uploaded.

When Interfolio is contacted by the institution, Interfolio will create a new Pending Delivery for each letter requested by the application.

You’ll receive an email from Interfolio to alert you of your new delivery requests. Navigate to your Deliveries page on Interfolio to submit your pending deliveries.

It takes 1-3 business days for Interfolio to upload your documents to the online application system after you check out. If you’re worried about missing your application deadline, email [email protected] or call 877-997-8807 to expedite your delivery upload.

Note: Some applications require additional information (performance ratings, rankings, etc.) that Interfolio cannot provide on behalf of your writer. Interfolio will cancel your deliveries and contact you if Interfolio encounters any application questions that Intefolio cannot answer or bypass.

Why hasn't my Online Application Delivery been created as a Pending Delivery?

Occasionally, online application requests from third-party application systems do not reach Interfolio. This can happen for a few reasons:

• The application hasn't processed your letter writer data yet, and therefore hasn't sent Interfolio a request yet
• The document email address was entered incorrectly
• A special character (like an accent) is preventing Interfolio from processing the email request correctly
• An error occurred within the third-party application

What you should do

Contact Interfolio immediately at [email protected]. Interfolio may be able to match an orphan request received by its server to your account.

If Interfolio can't match your request with your account, Interfolio will ask you to try to re-request the letter on the application system.

If you can't re-request a letter, Interfolio will need to contact the receiving institution to figure out the best way to resolve the situation.

Note: Please monitor your pending deliveries closely and let Interfolio know if you’re expecting a delivery that hasn’t come in yet.

We require self reported, and/or scanned copies of transcripts and test scores from all applicants, which must be submitted with the completion of your online application. We do not require you to send in an official score report for application to the program. If offered admission, these documents will be required to validate the offer of admission.

International students who do not have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an institution in which all instruction is conducted in English must take either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the PTE (Pearson Test of English), or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). You may be exempted only if you have earned a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction. We will not accept requests for exceptions to this policy. Your scores must be valid when you submit your application.

International students who do not have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an institution in which all instruction is conducted in English must take either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the PTE (Pearson Test of English), or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). You may be exempted if you have or are currently enrolled in a degree program from an institution in which English is the language of instruction. We will not accept requests for exceptions to this policy.

The TOEFL, PTE, and IELTS scores are valid for two years. Your scores must be valid when you submit your application.

Be sure to self-report your TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS score when completing your application. If admitted, you must submit an official score report. For the TOEFL, Columbia’s ETS code is 2141. For the PTE and IELTS, select Columbia Business School from the list of schools provided. The Admissions Committee will consider only your highest score when reviewing your application.

The exact numbers for this year's entering class can be found in the class profiles for each program.

All applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). These tests report to the MS programs the verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills of the applicants and assess their suitability as a candidate for the program.

The GRE or the GMAT will be accepted for application to all of our MS Programs. There is not a specific preference to which exam you take.

Prior to reapplying, we urge candidates to seek to strengthen their applications in any way possible.

If you are considering a reapplication, please consider the ways in which you might strengthen your candidacy. Consider the following:

• Improved GMAT, GRE, and/or TOEFL scores
• Refinement of your professional and research goals
• New essay
• New letters of recommendations

Please be aware that you must file a new application, in addition to paying the current application fee. Your previous transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other information will be available to you through our online application.

From a previous application, we will allow re-applicants to use the following towards their new application: transcripts, test scores, and recommendation letters are all transferable towards your new application.

All students reapplying are required to provide a new statement of purpose.

When reapplying, please use a new application form with the same login credentials from your previous application. The School's online technology will allow users to import the already mentioned pieces of a given application.