New York, NY
Founded in 1754
Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly known as Columbia University, is a private research university located in Morningside Heights, Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is one of the eight Ivy League schools. Originally founded in 1754 as King’s College by royal charter from King George II of England, Columbia is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the oldest in the state of New York. The university was renamed Columbia College in 1784 and moved to its current location on Madison Avenue in 1896, at which point it became known as Columbia University.
Columbia University is one of the fourteen founding members of the Association of American Universities and was the first university in the United States to confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). The university is primarily composed of three main colleges: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies. In addition, the university’s business school, law school, medical school, engineering and applied sciences school, public health school, international and public affairs school, and arts school are renowned for their academic excellence.
The university's athletic teams, known as the Columbia Lions, are a member of NCAA Division I and include over 29 teams, most famously in American football. Columbia University is also the institution responsible for awarding the prestigious Pulitzer Prizes annually.
Notable alumni include President Barack Obama, five U.S. Founding Fathers, nine U.S. Supreme Court Justices, 20 living billionaires, and 29 Academy Award winners.