
2019- 2020 Overview
Columbia has one of the largest international student and scholar populations in the U.S.
The data is compiled for the annual Open Doors Report published by the Institute for International Education (IIE) every November.
International Student and Scholar Population

15,000 +
Total international students and scholars

156
Number of countries represented
International Student Population Fall 2019
Total of 17,145: Enrolled 12,312 plus 4833 engaged in post-graduation Optional Practical Training (OPT)
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12,312
Enrolled in fall 2019
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4833
Number of alumni engaged in Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment in their field of study
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Gender
Female: 51.8% Male: 48.2%
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156
Number of countries represented
Top 10 Countries by Enrollment
- Rank
- 1
- Country
- China
- Total Enrolled
- 6202
- Undergrad
- 329
- Graduate
- 5682
- Non-degree
- 191
- Post-graduation OPT
- 2655
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 8857
- Rank
- 2
- Country
- India
- Total Enrolled
- 1543
- Undergrad
- 82
- Graduate
- 998
- Non-degree
- 16
- Post-graduation OPT
- 615
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 1711
- Rank
- 3
- Country
- South Korea
- Total Enrolled
- 506
- Undergrad
- 149
- Graduate
- 331
- Non-degree
- 26
- Post-graduation OPT
- 168
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 674
- Rank
- 4
- Country
- Canada
- Total Enrolled
- 500
- Undergrad
- 102
- Graduate
- 382
- Non-degree
- 16
- Post-graduation OPT
- 157
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 657
- Rank
- 5
- Country
- France
- Total Enrolled
- 281
- Undergrad
- 68
- Graduate
- 185
- Non-degree
- 30
- Post-graduation OPT
- 109
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 390
- Rank
- 6
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Total Enrolled
- 219
- Undergrad
- 74
- Graduate
- 134
- Non-degree
- 11
- Post-graduation OPT
- 60
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 279
- Rank
- 7
- Country
- Brazil
- Total Enrolled
- 198
- Undergrad
- 44
- Graduate
- 137
- Non-degree
- 17
- Post-graduation OPT
- 55
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 253
- Rank
- 8
- Country
- Germany
- Total Enrolled
- 162
- Undergrad
- 22
- Graduate
- 108
- Non-degree
- 32
- Post-graduation OPT
- 34
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 196
- Rank
- 9
- Country
- Singapore
- Total Enrolled
- 159
- Undergrad
- 37
- Graduate
- 120
- Non-degree
- 2
- Post-graduation OPT
- 37
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 196
- Rank
- 10
- Country
- Taiwan
- Total Enrolled
- 154
- Undergrad
- 12
- Graduate
- 140
- Non-degree
- 2
- Post-graduation OPT
- 100
- TOTAL (Enrolled + OPT)
- 254
Top 10 Schools by Enrollment
- Rank
- 1
- School
- Fu Foundation of Engineering & Applied Science (Graduate degrees)
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 2697
- Rank
- 2
- School
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 2629
- Rank
- 3
- School
- School of Professional Studies
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 1797
- Rank
- 4
- School
- Columbia Business School
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 915
- Rank
- 5
- School
- Columbia College
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 731
- Rank
- 6
- School
- School of International & Public Affairs
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 696
- Rank
- 7
- School
- School of General Studies
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 522
- Rank
- 8
- School
- Columbia Law School
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 485
- Rank
- 9
- School
- Fu Foundation of Engineering & Applied Science (Undergraduate degree)
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 424
- Rank
- 10
- School
- Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
- Number of International Students Enrolled
- 417
International Scholar Population July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020
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3,159
Number of international scholars (faculty and researchers) at Columbia's Morningside and CUIMC campuses
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107
Number of countries represented
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Gender
Male: 56.5% Female: 43.5%
Top 10 countries
Top 5 countries
- Rank
- 1
- Country
- China
- Number
- 915
- Rank
- 2
- Country
- India
- Number
- 205
- Rank
- 3
- Country
- Italy
- Number
- 195
- Rank
- 4
- Country
- Germany
- Number
- 164
- Rank
- 5
- Country
- France
- Number
- 142
- Rank
- 6
- Country
- Brazil
- Number
- 131
- Rank
- 7
- Country
- Japan
- Number
- 129
- Rank
- 8
- Country
- South Korea
- Number
- 120
- Rank
- 9
- Country
- Spain
- Number
- 105
- Rank
- 10
- Country
- Canada
- Number
- 105
Immigration Status
Immigration Status
- J-1
- 2129
- H-1B
- 502
- O-1
- 51
- TN
- 39
- F-1 Post-Grad OPT
- 394
- B or Visa Waiver
- 0
- All Others
- 44