🏠 Columbia University — Parent Guide

Helping parents understand dorm options, safety, accessibility, and what to expect at Columbia University.

💡 Tips for parents reviewing dorm options:

🏠 How housing selection works at Columbia University

Columbia requires all undergraduate students to live on campus except in exceptional circumstances. The residential system is integral to undergraduate life.

First-Year Housing: All first-year students live in designated residence halls on or near campus. Housing assignments are made by the Housing Office.

Upperclass Housing: Returning students participate in a lottery-based housing selection process each spring. On-campus housing options include dormitories and residential spaces in various locations.

Residential Communities: Columbia offers themed residential options, residential colleges, and special-interest housing communities that students can apply to.

As of May 8, 2026

📍 Location

New York, NY

🏛️ College Type

Private Research University

👥 Enrollment

30,021 total students

🏠 Housing

23 dorm buildings reviewed on DormScouter

📊 Dorm Comparison by Safety & Cleanliness

DormOverall ★Safety ★Cleanliness ★ReviewsFeatures
Hartley Hall 0
Morningside Heights Housing 0
Graduate Housing — Grad Towers 0
Carman Hall 0
Furnald Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
John Jay Hall 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
Wallach Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Wien Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Broadway Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
East Campus 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Hogan Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
McBain Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Plimpton Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
River Hall 0
Ruggles Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Schapiro Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Woodbridge Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
600 West 113th Street 0
Harmony Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
47 Claremont Avenue 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Watt Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Lenfest Hall 0
FSL Brownstone Houses 0

🔗 More Resources

🔗 Columbia Residential Life

Open link ↗

🔗 Housing Selection

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🔗 First-Year Housing

Open link ↗

🔗 Housing Application

Open link ↗

🎓 Class-Year Housing Guides

Year-specific advice for Columbia University dorms — what changes from freshman to senior year:

🎓 Freshman Guide📚 Sophomore Guide📖 Junior Guide🎉 Senior Guide

🔍 Filter by Amenity

Looking for something specific? Browse Columbia University dorms filtered by amenity:

❄️ with Air Conditioning🍳 with Shared Kitchen🛗 with Elevator♿ ADA-Accessible🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Friendly🚿 with Private Bathrooms🛁 with Semi-Private Bathrooms🧼 with Communal Bathrooms♀ All-Female