Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Columbia Nursing—located in New York City and affiliated with Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC)—is a graduate-level nursing institution that prepares expert clinicians, researchers, and leaders in health care. 

Columbia University School of Nursing's impact began over 130 years ago when it opened in 1892. Anna C. Maxwell, the school's first dean, set the standard for nursing education and service that would become the foundation for Columbia Nursing's excellence for decades to come. Learn more about Columbia Nursing’s history.

Our mission: Grounded in excellence in nursing education, Columbia Nursing prepares clinicians, scientists, and leaders to achieve optimal health for all through transformative practice, innovative research, and alliances and advocacy for health equity, social justice, and sustainable global well-being.

Our vision: We champion the power, potential, and impact of nursing to reimagine and advance health for all.

Learn more about the Columbia School of Nursing.

The school is on the CUIMC campus in northern Manhattan, at 560 West 168th Street. 

Some key contacts:

• Office of Admissions: 212-305-5756 / nursingadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu
• Office of Financial Aid: sonfinaid@cumc.columbia.edu  
• Office of Student Services: OSSNursing@cumc.columbia.edu 
• Office of Academic Affairs: 212-342-3920 / SON-OCAS@cumc.columbia.edu 
• Dean’s Office: 212-305-3582 

As of early 2026:

• 756 students in degree programs (MS, DNP, PhD) 
• 106 students in the non-degree OPEN (Online Prerequisites for Entry to Nursing) program 
• The average undergraduate GPA for admitted students is 3.6
• 73 full-time faculty, 312 part-time, and 387 clinical preceptors 
• Columbia Nursing was ranked #2 among U.S. nursing schools in NIH funding for fiscal year 2025
• The school maintains over 200 clinical partnership sites in NYC and ~9 global clinical integration sites abroad 

Columbia Nursing offers:

• Online Prerequisites for Entry to Nursing (OPEN) for non-nurses who need prerequisite science courses before applying to nursing programs.
• Master's Direct Entry (MDE) for non-nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and wish to become registered nurses (RNs). The MDE offers a pathway to the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Direct Care program. 
• Hybrid Master's Direct Entry as an alternate pathway to the MDE for individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field who wish to become registered nurses (RNs), beginning with three part-time online semesters before transitioning to full-time, in-person study. 
• Master's in Advanced Clinical Management & Leadership (ACML) as a fully online program that focuses on developing the competencies nurses need to lead health care teams, drive quality improvement initiatives, guide care transitions, apply evidence-based practice, and respond to the needs of complex health care systems. The ACML serves as an excellent pathway to the Systems Leadership DNP.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP-Direct Care) for advanced clinical practice. Columbia Nursing offers the following specialties: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Anesthesia, Family Nurse Practitioner, Midwifery, Psychiatric-Mental Health.
• Part-time Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP-Direct Care) for these specialties: Acute Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health. 
• Doctor of Nursing Practice-Systems Leadership (DNP-SL) as an online program for experienced APRN's and non-APRNs with a nursing degree interested in pursuing executive careers in healthcare systems, academic settings, and policy environments. 
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) as a full-time, research-intensive program for nurse scientists.

For many programs, applications open in late summer. Specific deadlines vary by program—check the program-specific application pages. 

Columbia employs a holistic review process, considering academic record (GPA), prerequisite coursework, letters of recommendation, personal essays/statements, relevant experience, and fit with faculty research interests. 

For the PhD program:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing (or in some cases, non-nurses with additional credentials) 
• A New York State RN license or eligibility (for applicants with an RN background) 
• For international students: TOEFL requirements and visa considerations 
• Prerequisite coursework must typically be completed with a grade of C or better (C- is not acceptable) 

Tuition rates vary by program and student status. Visit our tuition page for more information.

Yes. Financial assistance options include:

• Institutional scholarships and grants (merit- or need-based)
• Federal student aid (for U.S. citizens/permanent residents)
• Private education loans
• Research or teaching assistantships
• External scholarships and fellowships (e.g., HRSA Nurse Corps, AACN, Sigma Theta Tau International)

Prerequisites typically include foundational courses in biology, chemistry, statistics, anatomy and physiology, and other health sciences. Specific prerequisites vary by program—check the program-specific pages.  Applicants must complete these before matriculation (not necessarily by the application deadline).  

For those needing those courses, the OPEN program allows non-nurses to take them online. Note: the OPEN program is considered non-degree and is not eligible for federal financial aid. 

Yes, for the DNP program, Columbia offers a DNP Extended Pathway option (hybrid format) for certain tracks (e.g., Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health) to accommodate working nurses.  The school also offers a hybrid version of the MDE program in which students complete their first three semesters online. 

Some programs or portions are offered online or in hybrid formats (e.g., OPEN, Master's in Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership as well as hybrid MDE, and part-time DNP programs). 

However, due to the clinical nature of nursing education, substantial in-person and clinical components are required.

The school may accept transfer or equivalency credits depending on program, institution, relevance, and grade. Applicants should consult their program’s Academic Affairs office. 

Students learn from our world-renowned faculty in one of the most diverse and complex settings—New York City. The school’s Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation Center—a 14-room, two-story, 16,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility—transforms nursing education by immersing students in high-acuity, team-based clinical experiences, building judgment, confidence, and communication under pressure. By integrating AI-driven learning, interprofessional in-situ simulation, and immersive technologies, our faculty don’t just teach skills, they accelerate practice readiness and hardwire patient safety into the next generation of nurses. The simulation center is one of the first in the country to use AI-powered avatars in nursing education, and it has been on the forefront of many other uses of AI within the profession. It is fully accredited by the Society of Simulation in Healthcare. 

Yes—Columbia Nursing has global partnerships and offers four- to six-week clinical practicums at sites in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe, primarily for those in the MDE program. 

Columbia Nursing does not guarantee housing. Students are responsible for arranging housing, and many live in nearby Manhattan neighborhoods. CUIMC Housing Services may assist. 

As part of Columbia University and Columbia University Irving Medical Center , the School of Nursing offers a rich and diverse cultural experience. Professional development opportunities, social events, and student support are available through the Office of Student Affairs.  Columbia Nursing provides exciting, and fun opportunities for student involvement through membership in organizations and mentorship opportunities. Students have access to a myriad of student organizations from which they can choose to join.  

There is also a strong research culture, opportunities for collaboration, and interprofessional work within the CUIMC milieu.  

The Division of Nursing and Advanced Clinical Practice, a collaboration between Columbia Nursing, CUIMC, and ColumbiaDoctors, supports nurses and advanced practice providers across CUIMC, providing professional development resources and opportunities for career advancement. 

The research program is broad and interdisciplinary. Key areas include:

• Biobehavioral science and omics research 
• Informatics and data science 
• Health disparities, health equity, vulnerable and underserved populations 
• Palliative care and symptom science 
• Health policy, health care delivery, and systems research 
• Infection prevention and control, especially in home health settings 

Learn more about research at Columbia Nursing.

Columbia Nursing hosts several dedicated centers:

• Center for Health Policy (CHP)—focuses on research that informs policy across care settings (home health, hospitals, primary care) 
• Center for Community-Engaged Health Informatics and Data Science (CCHIDS)—established recently to promote health equity via data science and community engagement 
• Center for Healthcare Delivery Research and Innovations (HDRI) —conducts health care systems and health services research to strengthen health care delivery.
• Center for Research on People of Color (CRPC)—addresses health disparities in racial and ethnic minority populations 
• Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research (CSGMHR)—supports established and emerging researchers dedicated to improving the health and lives of sexual and gender minority people. 
• Linking to Improve Nursing Care and Knowledge—unites scholarly efforts across practice and academia 

Columbia Nursing has consistently ranked among the top U.S. nursing schools in National Institutes of Health funding. For example, for fiscal year 2025, it ranked #2. 

In recent years, the school has managed over 90 active grants and substantial federal and non-federal funding, totaling about $26 million in FY 2025.

• PhD students: The program emphasizes mentored research, training in quantitative/qualitative methods, grant writing, and collaboration. 
• Funding and fellowships: The school maintains institutional training (T32) grants supporting predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows. 
• Interprofessional collaborations: Students often work with faculty across CUIMC (e.g. public health, medicine) on interdisciplinary projects. 
• Clinical translation: Many projects are designed to translate findings into practice or policy, especially through faculty-clinician collaborations. 

Yes. Columbia Nursing offers hands-on opportunities for research and clinical immersion worldwide. Students learn how nurses across nine different global sites, and other low-resource settings care for their patients and communities under challenging circumstances.

Columbia Nursing follows an academic–practice model that links clinical care, teaching, and research:

• Students train in Columbia’s nurse-led practices, learning advanced clinical and interprofessional skills.
• Faculty clinicians teach and deliver patient care, ensuring that the latest evidence and innovations inform practice.
• Research findings from the school’s centers (such as the Center for Health Policy and Center for Healthcare Delivery Research and Innovations) are translated into new care models that improve outcomes and reduce disparities.

This integration allows Columbia Nursing to serve patients while continually advancing the science and practice of nursing.

The school’s Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation Center also helps prepare students for real-world practice through simulation exercises using manikins or actors trained to play the role of a patient. These exercises help students learn to think critically in complex situations, communicate effectively with patients and health care teams, and manage rapidly changing situations in real-time.

ColumbiaDoctors Nurse Practitioner Group delivers high-quality, evidence-based care to patients across the lifespan. Services are provided by nurse practitioners, midwives, and other advanced practice providers, often in collaboration with ColumbiaDoctors physicians. Nursing students rotate through the practice to gain clinical experience.

Clinical services include:

• Annual physical exams
• Disease management
• Illness and injury care
• LGBTQIA-inclusive health care
• Pre-operative exams
• Travel health services
• Women's health clinic

Learn more about patient care at Columbia Nursing.

ColumbiaDoctors Nurse Practitioner Group is in Washington Heights at 516 West 168th Street, New York, NY, on the CUIMC campus.