Student life is enlivened by the City: the variety of neighborhoods, cafes, restaurants, and nightlife is astounding. The two Columbia campuses are 15 to 30 minutes by subway or bus from the cultural and entertainment attractions of midtown Manhattan, the Theater District, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, the East Village, and SoHo. Transportation to and from the major airports (LaGuardia, Kennedy, and Newark) is easy from both campuses.

The Heath Sciences Campus is located in Washington Heights, near the northern end of Manhattan Island. It overlooks the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge, the New Jersey Palisades, and midtown Manhattan. The Morningside Heights Campus is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a lively college neighborhood of bookstores and student restaurants. Most of the students in the program live in this area, in subsidized student apartments.  Amenities from small grocery stores and supermarkets, to shops of every description. A ten-minute free shuttle bus ride connects the two campuses. The NYC subway system connects both campuses to every neighborhood in the five boroughs of the city, eliminating the need to own a car.

Having grown with and within New York, Columbia is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. We invite you to learn more about Columbia and NYC:

Follow the history of Columbia from a small schoolhouse on what is now lower Broadway, to two sprawling campuses in Morningside Heights and Washington Heights.

The Columbia experience goes well beyond a formal education. We support each student in the pursuit of his or her individual interests. For instance, the P&S Club supports over 50 ‘activities’ clubs that organize various extra-curricular activities. Whether your passions lie in the arts, athletics or activism you’ll find various ways to get involved with other like-minded individuals. Especially popular are the Bard Hall Players who mount dramatic plays and musical productions each year. For a list of clubs, and to learn more click here . For a calendar of events check here.

NYC is the cultural center of the world with diverse events, an electrifying nightlife, and restaurants serving the finest cuisine. Whatever your interests, you will be able to find something to do in or around Columbia’s two campuses. From watching a baseball game at Yankee Stadium to catching a Broadway play or musical you can do it here. NYC is home to countless live music venues for all musical tastes including jazz, rock, and classical. In addition, Columbia students have free access to a huge variety of world-class museums. If you are more of a shopper than a museum lover, NYC has that covered too. You can spend time window shopping in New York’s exclusive SoHo district. Plus fans agree NYC is the sports capital of the world. With professional baseball, basketball, football, and hockey teams, there is always an exciting event to watch live. 

Outdoor leisure activities are also abundant. The university is within a few blocks of a scenic 28-mile biking/jogging path that encircles the entire waterfront of the Island of Manhattan. The two campuses of the university are within a short walk of three spectacular parks: Central Park and Riverside Park downtown and Fort Tryon Park at the uptown campus. In fact, numerous parks dot the city. The Hudson River along the Manhattan shore and New York Harbor offer superb opportunities for kayaking and sailing. The beaches of Long Island, the scenic Hudson River Valley, the Catskill mountains of upper New York State, and the ski slopes of Vermont all are readily accessible.  The Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium are all a short distance away.

Columbia continues to expand its research capabilities and facilities. Learn more about Columbia’s proposed expansion into Manhattanville here