Columbia Business School admissions:
which test to take and what scores the class reports

Which tests do Columbia programs require?

Columbia Business School does not have a single rule for all programs: each has its own requirements page, and the admissions test is one part of the application alongside transcripts, a résumé, essays, a recommendation, and an interview. The table covers the full-time MBA, Executive MBA, and the school’s three master’s programs: MS in Accounting and Fundamental Analysis (MSAFA), MS in Financial Economics (MSFE), and MS in Marketing Science (MSM).

Read requirements program by program. Each has its own rules, and the Executive MBA handles admissions tests differently from the full-time MBA. Before booking a test, check the page for your intended program.

GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment: does the school have a preference?

For the MBA, the school accepts GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment scores without stating a preference. Choose based on your timeline, the test on which you perform best, and your other target schools. The “choosing an international test” article outlines these criteria, and the Executive Assessment article explains who the test is designed for.

The school accepts both GMAT editions, 10th Edition and Focus Edition, so a still-valid score from the older version counts. When multiple scores are available, the school uses the highest and does not combine sections from different test administrations. Scores are valid for five years after the test; the school asks applicants to send the report and submit the application at least one week before it expires.

The Executive MBA handles testing differently. Its FAQ says a score is “encouraged,” and the school offers a waiver based on quantitative ability and preparation for classroom work. Submit a waiver request through the online application with a résumé, transcript, short statement, and two supporting documents, at least two weeks before the intended round deadline.

The master’s programs take the opposite approach: all applicants must take the GMAT or GRE, and the school says it does not accept exception requests. It has no preference between the tests and does not list the Executive Assessment. Both GMAT editions are accepted, and only the highest score is used, without combining sections across test administrations. Scores are valid for five years; the school asks applicants to send the report and submit the application at least one week before it expires.

Which English test, and what is the minimum?

The MBA does not require a separate English test; the school says GMAT or GRE Verbal scores are sufficient for international applicants. No TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE minimum applies to this program, and TOEIC is not involved.

The master’s programs require international applicants to take TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE unless they hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an institution where all instruction is in English. The requirements page limits the waiver to a completed degree; one FAQ response also includes applicants currently enrolled in an English-language program. If your degree is in progress, confirm your waiver with admissions before skipping the test. These pages list no English minimum; scores must be less than two years old when applying, and the school uses the highest score. Columbia’s ETS institution code is 2141.

The Executive MBA requirements pages and FAQ cited here do not name an English test; confirm your situation with admissions. TOEFL iBT has used a 1–6 scale since January 21, 2026, with a comparable 0–120 score included on reports through January 2028.

What scores does Columbia publish?

Our rule: we include a score figure only when the school publishes it, with its scope, class, and source page. Averages and medians are identified as such, never presented as minimums, and we do not convert figures between scales. GMAT has two scales—the current Focus Edition (205–805) and the older 10th Edition (200–800)—which Columbia displays separately.

The MBA profile covers the class entering in 2025, combining January and August entering classes: 982 enrolled students from 7,477 applications. For both GMAT editions and both GRE sections, it gives an average and a range without saying whether the range covers the full class or a subset; we label it “range shown.”

The master’s profiles also cover classes entering in 2025: 61 MSAFA students, 53 MSFE students, and 48 MSM students. They report only GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores, although GMAT is accepted; the MSFE page says there is no minimum test score or GPA requirement. The Executive MBA profile, with 217 students entering in 2025, reports no scores.

What happens after the test?

The MBA application also includes transcripts and GPA, a résumé, two short answers, three essays, and one recommendation for applications submitted through Columbia’s portal. The $250 application fee may be waived under certain conditions. Interviews are by invitation only. Check the instructions for your intended start date and track before preparing your application.

The MBA has several rounds for each entering class, each with its own deadline and decision date on the school’s options and deadlines page. Check that page when planning; schedule the test early enough to allow for a retake, since scores must be self-reported with the application and the school asks applicants to submit the application and send the report at least one week before the score expires.

For the New York Executive MBA entering in August 2027, the three rounds are October 14, 2026, February 11, 2027, and May 5, 2027, at noon Eastern Time; EMBA-Global has its own schedule. The application fee is $250, one professional recommendation is required, and interviews are by invitation. Master’s applications opened August 5, 2026, and close at noon Eastern Time on January 14, 2027 for MSFE, January 21 for MSAFA, and January 28 for MSM; the fee is $100 and two recommendations are required.