Housing & Dining

At Columbia, undergraduate housing is guaranteed for all four years, and about 90% of current students live on campus. Depth of variety and flexibility in living options makes residential life at Columbia incredibly appealing. From traditional corridor and suite-style residence halls at the center of campus—to apartment buildings, townhouses, duplexes and classic New York brownstones all just a short walk away.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Columbia's first-year residence halls.

Your home in the heart of campus

As a first-year student, you’ll find your home away from home at one of five first-year residence hall communities, each with different styles and features. Beyond a built-in network of friends, mentors and support, you'll have a beautiful place to live in one of the most exciting cities in the world.

After your first year, your choices are even more varied, including the option of applying to Special Interest Communities. These unique residences—Jazz House, Wellness House, Writers House and several more—give sophomores, juniors and seniors a way to explore and immerse themselves in one of their passions, presenting opportunities for students to connect with relevant faculty, administrators, alumni and community leaders.

Living in my first year residence hall allowed me to make many friends on my floor, learn about various campus resources and receive great mentorship from upperclassmen who lived on my floor.

Benjamin

Accra, Ghana

Economics

Amazing meals, any time of the day

Traditional dining halls, campus cafés, late-night haunts and hangouts—Columbia offers an award-winning variety of dining options that span a spectrum of global cuisines, all featuring local and sustainably sourced ingredients. Made-to-order omelettes and pasta dishes, authentic New York City bagel bar, fresh-made sushi or breakfast until 2PM. These are just some of the popular picks and themed dining events you’ll find around campus. Daily menus are available online for each of Columbia’s eleven dining facilities, so it’s always easy to find what you love.