Columbia University Precollege: Find Top Courses & Training Locations

With Columbia University Precollege, high school students can learn web development through the Columbia Engineering High School Coding Academy summer program. Students can also study subjects like digital filmmaking, machine learning, marketing, and programming through summer and weekend Precollege immersion programs, and even study alongside college students for credit.

Columbia University PreCollege gives ambitious high school students the chance to study at an Ivy League University in America’s largest city.

Columbia University is a private Ivy League university and ranked among the top universities in the world. Columbia was founded in 1754 at Trinity Church on downtown Manhattan’s famous Wall Street. Since then, Columbia has expanded to a tranquil, traditional campus in Upper Manhattan. Notable alumni of Columbia include Alexander Hamilton, President Barack Obama, US Presidents Franklin D Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Langston Hughes, Jack Kerouac, and Amelia Earhart.

Columbia University’s PreCollege program offers high school students the chance to participate in Columbia’s world-class academics.

School Locations

Columbia’s campus is an enclosed 36-acre campus in New York City. Residential programs offer students the chance to experience college life at Columbia by living in dorms. Currently, 60% of Columbia PreCollege is these types of residential programs.

Columbia PreCollege also offers courses online, which allow high school students to get the Columbia University experience from anywhere.

Subjects Taught at Columbia University Precollege

PreCollege students can select from over 40 courses selected from Columbia’s world-class academic departments, including Architecture and Urban Studies, Arts, Biology and Neuroscience, Business and Entrepreneurship, Creative Writing and Journalism, Law and Conflict Resolution, Media and Communications, Mathematics, Philosophy and Humanities, Social Impact and Sustainability, and Computer Programming.

Their Computer Programming program offers several classes for high school students interested in coding, including Understanding Blockchain, AI, and Machine Learning. High school students interested in machine learning should know about Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool.

Age Requirements

To be admitted to Columbia PreCollege, a student needs to be entering grades 9-12. Students are also eligible to apply for the summer immediately after 12th grade.

What Classes Are Available?

Columbia PreCollege pulls from the University’s wide array of academic departments to offer over 40-course options each year.

Some of the courses that have been offered are Neuroscience: Understanding the Brain, Big Data, Machine Learning, and their Real World Applications, Divine Beings, Miracles, and the Afterlife: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, The Origin and Evolution of the Universe, Understanding Cinema: Analyzing Film Language and Style, Conservation Biology and Sustainability: Preserving the Planet, and In the Twinkling of an Eye: A Philosophical Exploration of Time and Temporality.

Class Formats

Columbia PreCollege offers its courses on its NYC campus or online. Students can enroll in their Summer NYC Immersion program, which includes room and board on the Columbia campus and excursions around New York City.

Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains is a two-week program for high school students in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Students engage with experts from Columbia Climate School to study the science of climate change.

Admissions Process

Since Columbia is an Ivy League University, admissions to its PreCollege programs are highly-competitive. Students are encouraged to apply early. Accepted students typically have excellent academic and extracurricular backgrounds.

Students are required to submit an $80 application fee.

Pricing & Payment Options

Pricing varies for residential or online programs. The residential NYC Immersion program costs $12,449 for three weeks. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is required upon admittance. Online courses are $1,900 per 1-week course.

Columbia does not currently offer any financial aid for these programs.

Benefits of Attending Columbia University Precollege

Students can experience college life on an Ivy League campus in America’s largest city. Students can learn in NYC or online.

What Do Students & Parents Say?

Online reviews of Columbia University PreCollege are mixed. Many former students warn against the idea that attending PreCollege at Columbia will increase the chances of being admitted to college there.

But, most criticism is around the high price point of $12,000 for the residential program: “...the program is mostly just a way for the school to make money. It’s far less selective than the colleges, and I only recommend going if you get a really good scholarship. If you do go, try to take a small, discussion-based class. The professors for these will write you really good letters of recommendation.”

One student felt like it didn’t help them with college admissions at all, “Summer programs make money for the schools and don’t help with applications. Get a summer job and get some real-world experience to write about in your application essays instead.”

Several students felt that the academics were lacking and that “the program isn’t exactly the most prestigious program and that all the classes taught there aren’t actually taught by Columbia professors.”

Top Courses at Columbia University Precollege

Find the perfect course for you at Columbia University Precollege. We’ve selected 4 of Columbia University Precollege’s most popular courses. View the course catalog at precollege.sps.columbia.edu

Introduction to Programming with Python
Newcomers to programming develop skills in Python with this course for high school students. Participants gain practical experience in developing and applying algorithms.
Locations:
- NYC
- $2,810
- 1 Week
- Weekdays
- Beginner
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Computer Programming for Beginners: Coding in Java
Designed for high school students new to programming, this course helps young learners develop skills in Java. As they learn about algorithms and object-oriented programming, students work on both individual and group projects to put their new skills into practical applications.
Locations:
- NYC
- $6,225
- 3 Weeks
- Weekdays
- Beginner
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Computer Programming for Beginners: Coding in Python
In this course, high school students without previous programming experience develop skills in Python. Students learn about libraries, data structures, and functions as they work on individual and group projects and discover applications for Python programs.
Locations:
- NYC
- $6,225
- 3 Weeks
- Weekdays
- Beginner
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Introduction to Finance and Investment Management
In this course, high school students will learn the fundamentals of finance and investment strategies. By the end of the class, they will have developed their own investment portfolios.
Locations:
- NYC
- $6,225
- 1 Week
- Weekdays
- Beginner
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showing 4 of 4 courses

Subjects Taught at Columbia University Precollege

Python

Python is an easy-to-read, versatile object-oriented programming language. It is often compared to Java, Ruby, and Perl. It is available under an open-source license and is a favorite among programmers.

In-Person Python Classes Live Online Python Classes Python Bootcamps

Java

From basic single-computer programs to enterprise-level solutions, Java is the most widely-used code in the world. It is a simple, open-sourced code which is relatively easy to learn. Those who master it have solid employment prospects now and in the future.

In-Person Java Classes Live Online Java Classes Java Bootcamps

Investing

Investing is the process of generating revenue for personal or business purposes by placing money in an asset that is expected to increase in value. Investors may purchase business shares (stocks), property, real estate, or something else with the goal of growing their finances.

In-Person Investing Classes Live Online Investing Classes

Finance

Finance refers to all matters relating to money, from creating it to investing it. Finance is often divided into three, distinct specialties – personal finance, public finance, and corporate finance.

In-Person Finance Classes Live Online Finance Classes

Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

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Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

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Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

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Columbia University Precollege

School Locations

Subjects Taught at Columbia University Precollege

Age Requirements

What Classes Are Available?

Class Formats

Admissions Process

Pricing & Payment Options

Benefits of Attending Columbia University Precollege

What Do Students & Parents Say?

Top Courses at Columbia University Precollege

Introduction to Programming with Python

Computer Programming for Beginners: Coding in Java

Computer Programming for Beginners: Coding in Python

Introduction to Finance and Investment Management

Subjects Taught at Columbia University Precollege

Python

Java

Investing

Finance

Map of Columbia University Precollege Locations