Admissions Information

The Statistics Department at Columbia University offers a Master of Arts Degree in Statistics designed to prepare students for professional positions in Statistics.  It can also be a path to a doctoral program in statistics.

The M.A. in Statistics program may be taken either full-time or part-time.  The full-time course is designed to be completed in three semesters:  Fall/Spring—Year 1, Fall—Year 2. Students may also opt to take summer classes.  Part-time domestic students may complete the program within four years.

In addition to the regular program is the Hybrid Online/On-Campus program where courses are taken online for the first semester.  The requirements for both programs are the same as is the diploma received.  A prospective student must request to be considered for either the Hybrid or the regular On-Campus program, but can chose the other program as a second choice at the time of application.  Students accepted into the Hybrid Online/On-Campus Program cannot change to the On-Campus program.

A student already enrolled at Columbia University for an undergraduate degree may consider the BA/MA option.  Please read the section that follows for more information.

Click here for general Admissions Contacts

The BA/MA Option

A student who is interested in pursuing the BA/MA Option in the Statistics Department may set up an appointment with the Director of the Undergraduate Program, Professor Ronald Neath, before the end of the sophomore year. During this meeting, applicable courses for transfer into the MA Program will be discussed and an overall strategy/application time line will be reviewed.  The optimal time for an undergraduate student to apply is during the junior year.

Once accepted into the BA/MA program, a student will be provided with an MA Faculty Advisor to guide the process of transferring courses and finalizing the MA schedule.

Only upon enrollment in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) can a BA/MA student receive transfer credit for up to three courses (9-12 credits) and up to 0.50 RU for graduate courses (4000-level and above) taken in excess of the 124-credit requirement for the Columbia or Barnard bachelor’s degree (i.e., courses that did not count toward undergraduate major, concentration, or general education requirements).

The GRE is optional for the BA/MA.  Please read more about the BA/MA option on the GSAS Website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective students are advised to visit the M.A. Statistics page on the GSAS Website and to review all the Frequently Asked Questions.

  • Admissions FAQs – MA Statistics Website.
  • Hybrid FAQs – MA Statistics Website.
  • GSAS Admissions FAQs – GSAS Website.

Admissions Information for International Students

Information for international students:

The MA Statistics Program offers OPT – Optional Practical Training for International MA in Statistics Students – but does not offer CPT.

  • General information on OPT is here.
    • Summer employment after the second semester.
    • Employment after graduation.
  • Statistics is a STEM subject.  Details on the OPT extension for students with STEM degrees is here.
  • MA Statistics students receive details on how to apply for OPT through the MA Statistics Program Weekly Newsletter.

Application Procedures

To make the best application to our MA Statistics Program, please review ALL of the following before reaching out with questions:

Application for admission to the program is through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS):   Applying to GSAS .  All admissions materials must be sent to GSAS, not to the Statistics Department.  If you have a question about the application process (timing of exams, how to deliver GRE scores, etc.), please email those questions directly to the GSAS Admissions help desk.

Applicants who submitted an early application, but who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, must upload an updated transcript or submit the Fall Term Grade Report, as soon as the Fall Term grades are available. The transcript is uploaded on the Application Status page, which is the main page upon logging in to SSOL.

Application status can be determined by logging online.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for Fall 2019 applications is Friday, May 31, 2019.  Applications will open in late September 2018.  There are no spring admissions in this program, only fall admissions.

Admissions Contacts

If you have questions about:

Please visit:

Please email:

Any specific questions about:

  • your application materials
  • technical difficulties with application
  • adding items to application
  • the timing of exams
  • whether the application is complete or not
 GSAS Admissions

gsas-admissions@columbia.edu

Please include:

  • Your name
  • Date of birth
  • Application ID number
Application status Log into online application
International applications and English Proficiency GSAS Website
Tuition MA Website
Funding GSAS Website
Visas, I-20, OPT, STEM-OPT ISSO isso@columbia.edu
Program Requirements, Immunization

MA Program Requirements,

Immunization Compliance
How to apply to multiple programs GSAS
Exam scores, GPA, prerequisites, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose MA Statistics Checklist, FAQs
To find out when you will receive an answer Admissions FAQs

Fellowship Opportunity

Shardashish Interschool Fellowship