Key Highlights
Following a huge settlement with the federal government of the United States, the law school of the prestigious Columbia University has declared that it would make a big difference in its approach to international students. Another change that has occurred is the requirement of an international candidate to submit a written statement of why they are interested in studying in the United States when they apply to the Juris Doctor (JD) programme. This shift is on top of increased government scrutiny of global movement of students and enrolments at prestigious institutions.
Settlement and Its Implications
In 2016, Columbia Law School settled with the federal government of the United States and the amount was estimated at US 220 million, which has led to adoption of new compliance requirements. One of them requires that Columbia has to decrease its dependence on foreign tuition income.
In this resolution, Columbia will need to reform its admissions procedures of international students, initially in the law school, and ultimately in other schools of the university.
What’s Changing for International Applicants
Beginning with JD admissions in Fall 2026, international candidates to Columbia Law will have to provide a statement of purpose (or similar essay) which answers the question: why do you want to study in the U.S. This is required to be electronically filed during the first time of application.
Also, the law school LL.M. programme admissions page has been revised and has now featured such guidance as asking the applicant to take into consideration the question of why an LL.M., why study in the United States, why Columbia, and why now is the right time.
Also Read: British Columbia and Ontario PNP Draw Updates
Why the Change? Financial & Regulatory Pressures
One of the most important causes of this change is the fact that Columbia is financially exposed to foreign tuition. The international students of the law school were 593 in number in Fall 2024 and the figure comprised 34 percent of the student population. International students constituted 39 percent of overall enrolment across the university has the highest proportion of Ivy League counterparts.
-
In 2023, Columbia earned a total of US$ 903 million in revenue through international students, which is equivalent to 14.7 percent of the operating revenue and more than 60 percent of net tuition revenue.
-
In the meantime, federal control over international student programmes has intensified: terminations of visa, social media screening, and a decreasing number of international arrivals (19% down in August) have become worrying to institutions that rely on foreign enrolment.
Impact on Columbia’s Application Process & Other Schools
Although the law school already introduced the new requirement into its JD programme, other schools in Columbia, including the Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), could not adjust their applications to Fall 2025 since the settlement was announced after the applications were already open (August 1).
Nevertheless, in later admissions years, Columbia has promised that all of its schools will have an international applicant question that they ask that asks them to tell the University why they are interested in studying in the United States. The settlement time only meant that not all schools could roll out immediately.
Also Read: British Columbia Launches Three New PNP Streams for International Graduates
What This Means for Prospective International Applicants
What does this mean for prospective international applicants?
Increased Emphasis on ‘Why U.S.’
The foreign applicants will now have to tell a good story not only of the background, but of why they want to go to the U.S. system of legal education. It is a change of pure credentials to motivation and fit.
Potential for Greater Scrutiny
In the context of the regulation, the admissions of international students might be increasingly vetted. C Universities are being pushed to make sure that enrolments are not only based on the rationale to study, but also not based on revenue.
Re-thinking Tuition Strategy
In the case of Colombia, they might decrease international tuition dependency, and this can cause a shift in pricing or a shift in scholarship policies or even enrollment goals. New funding opportunities or changed tuition models may be visible to the applicants.
Competitive Advantage for Well-Prepared Applicants
The applicants who will be interested in the why study in the U.S. question, particularly in how Columbia can fit into their path, might have an advantage. The application essay is most likely to be a more critical element of assessment.
Broader Context in U.S. Higher Education
The Columbia reforms are part of a larger trend: The U.S. institutions have experienced the tightening of the visa policy, the rise in the interest of international admission to the country, and the need to diversify the financial sources. An example is when visa cancellations of foreign students at Columbia were affirmed, and regulatory measures like the provisional cancellation of the enrolment authority of Harvard have alarmed.
Indeed in this regard, the move on the part of Columbia is an indicator of recalibration, of reliance on international student tuition revenue to further-founded educational rationale.
Reactions & Observations
Columbia University administrators admit the fear of international students that the U.S. may lose its appeal due to visa and policy threats. In an internal communication, the then Acting University President Claire Shipman said that students might be wary of placing a bet on (essentially) coming to the United States, under the circumstances of where things are and with the visa situation changes.
Meanwhile, a hardship fund was allocated close to US$500,000 to assist international students with the expenses of travelling and receiving the visa.
Also Read: Three Provinces Extend Invitations to PNP Candidates in Latest Draws
What to Consider If You Are an Applicant
Consider the reasons why you want to study in the U.S and at Columbia in particular.
-
Make sure that your statement is authentic, personal and demonstrates that you are aware of the study system.
-
Get ready to have a more holistic assessment, other than grades/test scores.
-
Observes the potential changes in tuition, funding, and enrolment policies at Columbia.
-
Back-up or alternative countries should always be considered when there is a U.S. visa risk.
Conclusion
The fact that Columbia Law School is now requiring international applicants to provide reasons as to why they desire to study in the United States is a breakthrough in the admissions process of a significant United States law school. The change underlines the shifting environment of global students pursuing legal studies in the U.S. due to a historic settlement and the broader regulatory burden. This will not only increase the focus on motivation and fit but also increase awareness of visa and funding risks to potential international applicants. With the revision of the Columbia model, the applicants have to follow suit: they should make sure their stories are clear, focused, and oriented towards the expectations of the institution.
Contact TerraTern for more information.
