Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university located in New York City, United States. It was founded in 1754 as King's College and is the oldest institution of higher education in New York State and the fifth oldest in the United States. The university is organized into 20 schools, including the highly-regarded Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Columbia Business School.

Columbia is one of the largest universities in the United States by enrollment, with over 30,000 students from over 150 countries. The university is also well known for its diverse student body and commitment to promoting a global perspective in its curriculum.

Columbia has a rich academic history and has produced numerous Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists, and Rhodes Scholars. The university is also home to numerous research institutes and centers, including the Earth Institute and the Data Science Institute.

Columbia's campus is located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan and is spread out over multiple buildings. The university's iconic Low Memorial Library, with its neoclassical architecture and central location, serves as the center of campus life.