Columbia University in the City of New York

Established in 1754, Columbia University, the 5th oldest institution in the U.S., has a storied history and a legacy of innovation. The School of Nursing, with its inception dating back to 1892, has been at the forefront of equipping generations of students with the critical skills needed to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare. Graduates from Columbia Nursing hold the power to transform lives, making a lasting impact on the well-being of their patients, families, and communities.

Discover Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York

School Ranking: B+
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Columbia University in the City of New York is a public and non-profit National University. The insitution offers a variety of hybrid, on-campus, and online programs—including Accelerated BSN, MSN, Masters, RN to MSN, DNP, MSN to DNP, PhD, BSN to PhD, MSN to PhD, CRNA, CNM, NP, Post Grad Certificate, and Other degrees. Programs are accredited by the ACME, ACEN, and CCNE and the institution is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Student Demographics

  • 23 Average Age
  • 51% Men
  • 49% Women
  • 1% Veterans
  • 70% White
  • 14% Hispanic
  • 12% Black
  • 8% Asian

College Data provided by the U.S. Department of Education and complemented with additional insights from our analysts. Learn more about our Rankings Methodology.

Nursing Programs

  • $180,136 In-State Graduate Tuition*

*Tuition is an average of the programs listed below.

*Program Score compares similar specialty programs across our database. Learn more about our Rankings Methodology

Columbia University, the 5th oldest institution in America, is a private institution that was founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England. The School of Nursing, founded in 1892, has equipped each generation of students with the expertise demanded by a constantly changing health care system for over 125 years. Nurses who hold a degree from Columbia Nursing make a profound difference by improving the welfare of the patients, families, and communities they serve.

In 1956, Columbia Nursing was named the first in the country to award a Master's degree in a clinical nursing specialty.

Columbia Nursing has graduated 13,000 nurses since it opened.

Columbia Nursing takes part in partnerships with Columbia University Medical Center and is only one of eight schools in the nation associated with a major academic medical center.

Columbia is the largest recipient of NIH funding on a per capita basis among nursing schools.

In 2005, Columbia Nursing became the first graduate university-based nurse-midwifery program.

Columbia is the only school of nursing that has been chosen as a Collaborating Center for Advanced Practice Nursing by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Academic Nursing Degree Programs


Masters Direct Entry (MDE) Program (Formerly Combined BS/MS Program)

This program is designed to prepare students in 15-months to become masters-credentialed registered nurses.

Master of Science

The Master of Science in Nursing degree prepares nurses for advanced clinical practice. Beginning in the Summer of 2017, Columbia University School of Nursing will begin to offer advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) education at the doctoral level via the Post-Bachelor's Doctor of Nursing Practice (post-BS DNP) program. This program will be replacing the MS programs for all specialties except Anesthesia, which can still be completed as an MS program.

Specialty Areas

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP)
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Nurse-Midwifery
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMH)

Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Anesthesia

For RNs with a Bachelor's Degree  

The Nurse Anesthesia program consists of a 27-month, curriculum program that includes clinical anesthesia residency. This program requires full-time status.

The first-year curriculum includes advanced science courses, graduate core courses and specialty courses.

The clinical part will start in May of the second year. During clinical experiences, students will deliver anesthesia to patients, with tutorial guidance.

Clinical sites are available in the tristate area and beyond and are available as rotating or permanent. Clinical sites vary from urban centers as well as community hospitals. During the clinical residency, each student is precepted by both Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesiologists.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the certifying examination administered by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists.

Requirements (not all inclusive)

  • BSN or a non-nursing bachelor's degree and an associate's degree in nursing
  • Degree awarded by a regionally accredited college or university

Frequently Asked Questions

How much and what type of critical care experience is required for the program?

A minimum one-year of ICU experience is required. ICU experience includes: SICU, MICU, PICU, CVICU, CCU, Burn ICU, Trauma ICU, and Neuro ICU.

Do I need to have the CCRN certification?

Certification as Critical-Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) is highly recommended for the Nurse Anesthesia Program.

What is the minimum GRE score?

There is no minimum GRE score required for Columbia Nursing. All factors of an application are considered equally – applicants are neither accepted nor denied solely based on test scores.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Post-Bachelor's Doctor of Nursing Practice (post-BS DNP)

The post-baccalaureate program is three years in length. The first part of the program focuses on the advanced practice coursework and clinical rotations, which vary across different specialties. The remaining three didactic semesters, the curriculum is offered as a cohort followed by a mentored and supervised, two semester-long residency.

Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (post-MS DNP)

The post-master's program is six semesters in length, including four semesters of coursework precepted by a mentor; there is a two semester-long residency. The residency must be in an approved setting, which may or may not be in the New York metropolitan area.

Nurse Midwifery

Includes: well-woman gynecology, family planning, antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, primary care, and normal newborn care.

Graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certifying examination administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) to become a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). Graduates are also eligible to register with New York State as a licensed nurse midwife.

Graduation and Pass Rates

  • Columbia Nursing's five-year graduation rate is 100%.
  • For the last 5 years, the first time AMCB certification exam pass rate is 93%.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Both post-masters and post-BSN students admitted to the program will complete a minimum of 47 credits. The program completion takes about 3 years for those who have clear goals for their research.

Areas of Research

  • Infection prevention
  • Nursing informatics
  • Improving the health of women and children
  • LGBT health
  • Understanding health disparities
  • Health care policy
  • Comparative effectiveness

Sub-Specialty Programs

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Oncology
  • Adult and Pediatric Oncology
  • Palliative and End-of-Life Care
  • Women's Health

Accreditation and Approval

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredited Columbia University.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited the baccalaureate, master's and doctor of nursing practice programs.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation accredited the Columbia University School of Nursing as a provider for continuing nursing education.

The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) accredited the nurse midwifery program.

The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) accredited the nurse anesthesia program.

The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board approved the pediatric nurse practitioner program.

Rankings and Listings

US News & World Report (2019)

  • #5 (tie) in Best Nursing Schools: Master's
  • #9 (tie) in Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • #3 (tie) in National Universities
  • #6 in Best Value Schools
  • #7 (tie) in Nurse Practitioner: Adult / Gerontology, Acute Care
  • #3 in Nurse Practitioner: Adult / Gerontology, Primary Care
  • #7 in Nurse Practitioner: Family
  • #10 (tie) in Nurse Practitioner: Pediatric, Primary Care
  • #7 (tie) in Nurse Practitioner: Psychiatric / Mental Health, Across the Lifespan
  • #22 (tie) in Nursing-Anesthesia
  • #12 (tie) in Nurse Midwifery
  • #8 Best Global Universities

NICHE (2019)

  • Best Colleges in America #7
  • Top Private Universities in America #7
  • Most Diverse Colleges in America #9
  • Best College Locations in America #24
  • Most Liberal Colleges in America #28
  • Best Value Colleges in America #33
  • Best College Campuses in America #52
  • Best Colleges in New York #1
  • Most Diverse Colleges in New York #1
  • Top Private Universities in New York #1
  • Best College Campuses in New York #2
  • Best College Locations in New York #5
  • Best Value Colleges in New York #5
  • Most Liberal Colleges in New York #9
  • Best Colleges in New York City Area #1
  • Best Value Colleges in New York City Area #3

Forbes (2019)

  • #48 America's Best Value Colleges
  • #15 Top Colleges
  • #14 in Private Colleges
  • #14 in Research Universities
  • #11 in the Northeast

The Princeton Review has listed Columbia University in 2018's, "The Best 384 Colleges" and "Best Northeastern".

QS Top Universities ranked Columbia University #16 in their "Global World Ranking" category (2018).

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