NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Columbia University is weighing a major expansion of its undergraduate programs as the school faces financial pressure, declining international student applications, and rapid changes in higher education. Columbia University is considering increasing undergraduate enrollment in Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science by up to 20 percent.
Faculty received the proposal in an Oct. 31 email from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences policy and planning committee. The University expects to make a final decision before releasing early decision results in mid-December. Leaders say the move comes as Colombia confronts new financial realities. The University relies heavily on tuition from international students, who make up about 39 percent of total enrollment.
That share is the highest in the Ivy League. A federal settlement in July required Columbia to reduce its financial dependence on international enrollment, pushing the school to examine new ways to stabilize revenue. The debate over expansion accelerated after President Donald Trump’s administration canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia in March. Although a $221 million settlement restored most funding by October, the disruption created new uncertainty. The University also reported a 63.1 percent drop in its operating surplus for fiscal 2025 and expects fewer international applications this cycle.
Acting President Claire Shipman said research funding and international student enrollment pose “two big risk factors” for Columbia’s future. The University has used its waitlist at unusually high levels to maintain class size, admitting nearly 3,000 students for the class of 2029.
Columbia welcomed its largest-ever incoming class this fall, enrolling 1,806 first-year students — about 20 percent more than the class of 2028. One proposal would keep this larger cohort size permanently. The change followed rapid decisions made over the summer with limited faculty input, prompting concerns about transparency.
Faculty members say they were not fully consulted. Several professors argue the expansion is driven by revenue needs rather than academics. Some say they received no detailed explanation until the recent email from the planning committee.
Student government leaders report learning about the potential expansion only after being contacted by campus reporters. Many students say the University did not consult them despite major effects on housing, dining, and classroom access.
Columbia used Wien Hall for first-year housing this fall, forcing many General Studies and graduate students into different buildings. Students say the changes worsened crowding and signaled a focus on enrollment growth over student experience.
“We don’t have enough resources to support the current student body,” one council president said. “If enrollment continues to grow, quality of life will suffer.”
The University has struggled for years to accommodate students in required Core Curriculum courses. Columbia planned renovations at Uris Hall to ease classroom shortages, but work has not begun. Departments have tried new scheduling rules to reduce “bunching,” the practice of clustering classes at peak times.
New dorms and dining halls have opened since 2022, but capacity remains tight. The Maranamay dorm holds fewer than 200 students, and Hartley Hall remains under renovation until 2027. Dining services recently limited graduate student access as more undergraduates moved onto meal plans.
University leaders say they are reviewing long-term plans for housing, dining, and academic space. A new committee is assessing instructional needs to keep quality high if expansion moves forward.
Alumni leaders say expansion could benefit Columbia if it follows clear planning and protects academic standards. But they warn that fast decisions undermine trust.
Shipman, who approved the class of 2029 increase, has said strategic growth could strengthen the University if done with faculty guidance. She also emphasized improvements in advising, dining, and faculty hiring as part of the process.
Still, critics say the University must release a detailed plan before committing to a larger student body. They argue that Columbia risks repeating past mistakes that strained campus life.
