Master's · Columbia University
Columbia's Master of Science in Computer Science is a 30-point degree built around faculty-determined pathways. The department's pages list fall deadlines of 15 January (priority) and 15 February, ask for an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related discipline, and set no minimum GPA or GRE score, while noting that the programme is highly selective. The Columbia Engineering page marks the GRE as optional for the 2026 admission cycle.
Official information · fall deadlines of 15 January and 15 February
Taken from the Columbia Computer Science M.S. page, the department's application FAQ and the Columbia Engineering application-requirements page, read on 3 November 2026. The pages list fall deadlines of 15 January and 15 February and do not state the entry year in a labelled field; confirm the entry term and every date on the pages before you rely on it.
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related discipline. A degree in another field needs at least four computer science courses covering foundations and basic programming, and two mathematics courses.
The department sets no minimum GPA but says the programme is highly selective and that successful applicants typically have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
The Columbia Engineering page lists GRE General Test scores as optional for the 2026 admission cycle. The department sets no minimum GRE score and notes that most admitted applicants score 750 or higher on the Quantitative section.
The required materials include transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a résumé or CV. An interview may be requested.
The department lists a fall priority deadline of 15 January and a final deadline of 15 February, and strongly encourages applicants to meet the first. Deferrals are not offered.
The degree is 30 points at the 4000 level or above, including at least 6 points at the 6000 level, taken through faculty-determined pathways in eight disciplines.
Official sources
Read on 3 November 2026 on the Columbia Computer Science M.S. page, the department's application FAQ and the Columbia Engineering application-requirements page. The pathway pages, the breadth requirements, the bridge programme and the tuition pages were not read and are not stated.
Fit
The department states a degree background and a coursework fallback, and sets no cut-offs. The readings below mix Columbia's wording with Avandy's judgment, and the labels say which is which.
This is the default expectation. Applicants from other fields are expected to have the foundations and mathematics coursework listed on the FAQ.
The FAQ sets no minimum GPA or GRE score and then gives typical figures for admitted applicants. They describe a profile, not a threshold.
Read the typical GPA and GRE figures as the department's description of who succeeds, not as a target that settles the outcome. If your background is in another field, the coursework list is the evidence that decides whether you should apply or prepare first.
Decision
Students are expected to choose a pathway, and the department's pathways differ in which courses count.
The page lists computational biology, network systems, computer security, software systems, foundations of computer science, vision, graphics, interaction and robotics, machine learning and natural language processing.
MS Personalized and MS Thesis are by faculty invitation only, so they are not choices an applicant can plan around.
Pick the pathway whose courses match the work you want to do, and check the pathway page for key and elective courses before you write the statement.
Application
The Columbia Engineering page lists the materials, and the department's FAQ adds the computer science detail.
Transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a résumé or CV. International applicants submit an English language test where the rule applies.
The GRE is listed as optional for the 2026 admission cycle on the engineering page. The department's FAQ refers applicants to that page for the current rule, so check it for your cycle.
Aim for the 15 January priority deadline. The department says it strongly encourages it, and a completed application is what is reviewed.
Planning
The pages list fall deadlines of 15 January and 15 February and do not state the entry year in a labelled field, so check the entry term on the pages.
Check your background against the coursework rule, choose a pathway, brief three recommenders and draft the statement. Re-read the pages before submitting, because the school can change them.
Support
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Columbia University or any of its departments. Support sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the published requirements of each course. No outcome is promised.
Questions
The Columbia Engineering page lists GRE General Test scores as optional for the 2026 admission cycle. The department sets no minimum GRE score; check the page for your cycle.
The department lists 15 January as the priority deadline and 15 February as the final deadline, and strongly encourages applicants to meet the first.
The department says you should have an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related discipline. Applicants from other fields need at least four computer science courses and two mathematics courses.
No. The FAQ says there is no minimum GPA to apply but that the programme is highly selective and successful applicants typically have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
No. The Columbia Engineering page says deferrals will not be offered and that you should apply for the term you intend to enrol in.
Students and families
Tell us about your degree, your grades, your relevant experience and the master's courses you are weighing. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare the application.
