Columbia University Vagelos

New York, New YorkMDVP&S Official website

MCAT521AverageSources and context for MCAT
GPA3.85AverageSources and context for GPA
Class size1382025-2026Source for Class size
In-state tuition$77,585One year, tuition and feesSource for In-state tuition

Mission

“We aspire to transform human health by driving discovery, advancing care, and educating leaders.” We do this work in service to others and our community, both locally and globally. The mission of the VP&S MD program also includes the following statements: We are committed to fostering an environment that values civility, acceptance, respect, ethics, and support (CUIMC CARES), ensuring that our staff, faculty, and students have meaningful opportunities to put these values into action. At VP&S, we strive to educate the next generation of physician leaders who will serve neighboring, national, and global communities through the lens of health equity, promoting both well-being and state-of-the-art care of patients. Experiences at VP&S will shape the future and set the standards for medicine throughout the United States and globally. Guided exposure and training will exhibit the highest principles of humanism and professionalism in their responsibilities to their patients, to their community, and to society. The values of humanism, collaboration, inquiry, transformation, growth, and wellness—both individually and collectively—inspire our every effort in pursuit of this goal. https://www.vagelos.columbia.edu/education/academic-programs/md-program/about-md- program/schoolwide-values
As the school states it

Admissions office

Admissions Office, Room 105New York, NY 10032 USA
(212) 305-3595
[email protected]

Tuition and cost

Tuition and fees
In state$77,585
Out of state$77,585
One year, as reported. A missing figure means the school did not report it, never that it costs nothing.
Cost of attendance
In state$114,621
Out of state$114,621
Tuition plus the living costs the school budgets for. This is what a loan is sized against.
What you leave with
Average graduating debt
$104,024
Students receiving aid
89%
Health insurance
In state
$5,377
Out of state
$5,377
After graduation
Monthly loan payment
$726
Earnings, 1 year out
$78,891
Earnings, 5 years out
$141,861

Loan payment is on federal graduate loans only. Earnings are medians for everyone who finished this program, and a year out most of them are in residency.

Who can apply

Out-of-state ApplicantsYesYes, All applicants
Canadian ApplicantsYesYes, All applicants
International ApplicantsYesYes, All applicants
DACA Status ApplicantsYesYes, All applicants
Transfer applicantsNoNot accepted
Community college prerequisitesYesAccepted
AP creditConditionsVaries by course
Online courseworkConditionsAccepted with conditions
Pass/fail courseworkConditionsAccepted with conditions

Community college courses are accepted for students who transferred into a four-year institution. Community college credits are also accepted for students who have obtained a bachelor's degree and lack one or two of the required courses.

Applying

How competitive is admission here?

55.6applications per seat2025-2026
7,677applications received2025-2026
15.3%from in state2025-2026
  1. MCAT scores this school will read
    Oldest accepted
    January 2023
    Latest accepted
    September 12, 2026
  2. AAMC PREview
    Policy
    We are not using PREview scores in the admissions process
  3. Secondary application
    Required
    Yes
    Fee
    $110
    Sent to
    All applicants
    Fee waiver
    Available
  4. Secondary deadline
    Due
    October 22, 2026
  5. Letters of recommendation
    Committee letter
    Accepted with conditions
    Letter packet
    Accepted with conditions
    Individual letters
    Accepted
  6. Interview
    Format
    One-on-one
    Invitations
    August
  7. Deposit on an offer
    Required
    No

Prerequisite coursework

  • BiochemistryOne semester of Biochemistry, lab recommended but not requiredRequired
  • BiologyOne year of Biology with labs. For applicants whose undergraduate college accepted Advanced Placement (AP) credit to satisfy the requirement, we require one year of advanced study. This additional year must include at least one semester of the lab and two semesters are recommended.LabRequired
  • ChemistryOne year of general chemistry with lab. For applicants whose undergraduate college accepted Advanced Placement (AP) credit to satisfy the requirement in introductory-level Chemistry, no additional upper-level Chemistry is required beyond Organic Chemistry.LabRequired
  • Organic ChemistryOne year of organic chemistry with labLabRequired
  • PhysicsOne year of Physics with one semester of the lab. For applicants whose undergraduate college accepted Advanced Placement (AP) credit to satisfy the requirement in introductory- level Physics, no additonal Physics coursework is required.LabRequired

Interview

One-on-oneHeld: virtualVideo interview: YesRegional interviews: no
How the school describes it

Virtual, One-on-One

Invitations

August

A typical interview day

For information regarding the medical school interview day please visit: http://ps.columbia.edu/edu cation/admissions/intervie w-day

If you are waitlisted

Waitlist positions
The number varies each year

The waitlist is not ranked and remains open until the first day of class.

Sources

Figures here were last reviewed on 2026-08-04.

PreMD publishes no ranking of medical schools and republishes nobody else's. Reported averages and medians describe entering classes; they do not predict an applicant's result.

PreMD is an independent planning tool for applicants. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by this school, and this is not the school's official website. Marks are shown for identification.