Columbia campus tour: a real campus in the middle of Manhattan

Columbia is proof that a university in the middle of New York City can still have a proper campus. Step through the gates on Broadway at 116th Street and the traffic falls away: brick paths, lawns and a domed library take over, all within a few blocks of the subway. Founded in 1754 as King's College, the university has been on this site in Morningside Heights, in upper Manhattan, since 1897. This guide covers what to see, what the neighbourhood is like for students, and how to fit a visit into a New York trip.

Why Morningside Heights feels different

The main campus was laid out by the architects McKim, Mead & White as a formal, symmetrical plan of classical buildings raised above the surrounding streets. It occupies several city blocks between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, from 114th to 120th Street, and it's compact enough to cross in five minutes. That density is the point: students get the atmosphere of a traditional campus with all of Manhattan a subway ride away.

The university has also been building a newer campus called Manhattanville a little further north, near 125th Street, with glassy modern buildings used mainly for research, graduate schools and the arts.

The steps of Low Library

The heart of campus is Low Memorial Library, with its great dome and columned portico. Despite the name, it no longer holds the main collections; today it contains offices and its grand rotunda is used for events. Its wide steps are the campus meeting place, where students sit in the sun between classes, eat lunch and watch the crowd.

Halfway up the steps sits Alma Mater, a bronze statue by Daniel Chester French of a seated woman with outstretched arms. Look closely at the folds of her robe for a small owl, the symbol of wisdom. Students say whoever finds it first in their class will do especially well.

Butler Library across the lawns

Directly opposite Low, across South Lawn, is Butler Library, the main library. The names of great writers and thinkers from the ancient world, including Homer, Plato and Virgil, are carved above its columns. Libraries are generally for students and staff, so visitors usually admire Butler from outside.

College Walk and the Core Curriculum

College Walk, the stretch of 116th Street closed to traffic, cuts across campus between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. In winter, the trees along it are strung with lights, a celebrated seasonal tradition.

Academically, Columbia College is known for the Core Curriculum: all undergraduates take a shared series of small seminar courses on major works of literature, philosophy, art and music, whatever their major. It gives students a common set of books and conversations, and tour guides usually spend some time on it.

Across Broadway is Barnard College, a women's college affiliated with Columbia, whose students share many classes and facilities.

Life in the neighbourhood

Morningside Heights is a residential, academic neighbourhood, with bookshops, diners, cafés and casual restaurants along Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. A few blocks west, Riverside Park runs along the Hudson River, and the soaring Riverside Church overlooks it. Just south-east of campus is the Cathedral of St John the Divine, one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Harlem is immediately to the north and east, with its music venues, restaurants and history.

First-year students live on campus in residence halls around the main quads, and most undergraduates stay in university housing throughout their studies.

Transport to and around campus

Subway: the 1 train stops at 116 St–Columbia University, right at the main gates on Broadway. From Times Square it takes roughly 20 minutes.
From the airports: a taxi from LaGuardia is usually the quickest; from JFK or Newark, trains and the subway connect to Manhattan, then the 1 train north.
From intercity trains: Penn Station is on the same 1 line (at 34 St–Penn Station), so it's a straight ride up.
Walking: the campus itself is small; you'll walk everywhere once you arrive.

How visits work

Columbia's undergraduate admissions office usually runs information sessions and student-led campus tours on many weekdays during the academic year. Registration in advance is normally required, and sessions can fill quickly around school holidays. The official admissions and visitor pages list current times, formats and any rules for entering campus, which have changed in recent years; check them before you travel, and carry photo ID.

Which area to stay in

Morningside Heights and the Upper West Side: the closest options, fewer hotels but a calm residential feel and a quick walk or ride to campus.
Midtown: by far the most choice, with the 1 train running straight up the West Side to campus.
For a full breakdown of neighbourhoods, see where to stay in New York City.

Making it part of a New York trip

A campus visit takes a morning or an afternoon, which leaves plenty of time to see the city. The three-day New York itinerary is a good framework, and if you're touring several colleges, Yale is a two-hour train ride north and Princeton is about an hour south-west by train.

Tips for the day

Arrive by subway and walk in through the Broadway gates for the full effect.
Sit on the Low steps for ten minutes after the tour: it's the best way to see campus life.
Visit on a weekday in term for the real atmosphere; check the academic calendar for exam periods.
Bring ID and check the latest campus access rules before you go.

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Cover photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons