Enjoy a VIDEO from 2018 with our former Chair Richard Davis who continues as one of our influential faculty members.  

The Admissions Committee looks for applicants with a compelling background and strong grades in quantitative and related fields such as statistics, mathematics and computer science. Applicants are required to have one semester of  linear algebra and at least three semesters of calculus. Successful applicants have exposure to theoretical or applied probability and statistics.  Familiarity with computer programming is highly recommended. 

Interested applicants lacking background in these areas should make up the deficiency before applying. We do not offer conditional acceptance.

Due to the large number of applications received, the MA in Statistics staff does not answer inquiries about specific applications.  We do not give advice or offer direction to applicants before they are admitted.  While we appreciate interest in the program, emails expressing this interest have no bearing on the outcome of an application. One's candidacy is decided upon by the application materials only. Any specific interest and rationale should be conveyed in the personal statement within the application.

The number of enrolled students varies every year according to the number of qualified applications received.

Please refer to the GSAS Admissions website for deadline information. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. 

There are no minimum GPA set by the Department. The Admissions Committee looks competitively at the overall application including the grades received in relevant coursework, the prerequisites needed for the program, recommendation letters, test scores, and other supporting documents. 

To apply to more than one program in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, please review the Frequently Asked Questions on the GSAS Website.  

No, you may not.  Here is some general information on Statistics on the GSAS Website. 

 An interview is not part of the Admissions Process.   Nor do we provide tours or interviews with faculty or students. 

You may visit the Columbia Campus Visitor Center (213 Low Library).  HERE is a link for visiting the Columbia Campus.  HERE is a link for tours, including the self-guided tour.   HERE is more detailed information about Columbia University and visiting New York City. 

Thoroughly review the MA Website and the GSAS Website including the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). If questions remain and you are on campus, visit the GSAS Admissions Office (107 Low Library) between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. 

GSAS requires a minimum score of 100 on the Internet-based TOEFL (600 on the paper-and-pencil test) or 7.5 on the IELTS test.  Please refer to GSAS Admissions for timing and more details on the English Proficiency Requirement.  Write to [email protected] for specific questions. 

The typical full-time schedule is three semesters (Fall, Spring, Fall) with summer courses as optional.  Students in F1 status are required to be full-time and may not extend beyond the three semesters, according to their visa. A small number of exceptional students are able to complete the program requirements within two semesters. 

Part-time domestic students complete the program in a maximum of four years.  

Please refer to the GSAS Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.

When making your financial plans, it is necessary to consider tuition and fees as well as living expenses in estimating the overall cost of attendance (COA). 

Read HERE about scholarship and funding opportunities. 

You can find important dates on the Academic Calendar.  Choose the year, semester, and the school is the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  

Visit the MA Program Events Calendar to see dates and deadlines relevant to the MA Program in Statistics. 

Both R and Python are used.   A good website to have time to prepare in advance for programming options is located here.

PhD courses are generally restricted to PhD students. In rare cases, MA Statistics students who have demonstrated exceptional academic potential and  who plan to apply for a PhD program may submit applications to take selected PhD-level courses offered by the department. Space will be limited, with a cap decided by the faculty instructors of the PhD-level courses.  Well prepared MA students may also apply to be considered for the Honors Program (link to the  Honors   Program)   

You may apply for a grader position after you complete your first semester in the MA Program.  Keep reading the MA Newsletter and checking your emails as this limited opportunity will be announced. We do not offer RA or TA positions within the Statistics Department for Master's students, but there may be TA opportunities available outside the Department. 

 Yes, we have a Facebook page.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis across three cycles.

For Cycle 1 (Early Priority Review), submit by January 15th to receive a decision by February 22nd. For Cycle 2, applications submitted between January 16th and March 15th will receive a decision by April 22nd. For Cycle 3 (Final Review), applications submitted between March 16th and April 30th  will receive a decision by May 30th.

We appreciate the time and commitment you put into your application; however, we are unable to offer individual feedback on why you did not gain admission. This is a highly selective program and decisions are competitively based upon a thorough review of all application materials.

We do not have a number system for our wait list, nor do we share where you rank. 

No. If you are on the waitlist, you must simply wait to see if available slots open. You will be contacted if there is an open spot available for you. 

Extensions are not normally granted.  In exceptional circumstances, an applicants may contact GSAS Admissions if they need an extension to pay the tuition deposit.