Columbia University - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Most students feel safe at Columbia. It would be difficult not to, since Columbia security and the NYPD have such a high profile on campus. While it is possible for almost anyone to get on campus, access to certain buildings and all residence halls is restricted to those with a Columbia ID card. With escort services and emergency phones available, campus security excels at keeping students safe.

Simple common sense and street smarts are necessary to survive in any urban environment. Always be aware of your surroundings, and avoid dodgy places at night, especially the local parks. Trusting your instincts will often protect you—if you feel unsafe, it’s best to get out of the situation you’re in. Fortunately, there are plenty of police and security guards around Columbia to provide assistance in such a predicament. Even though the area surrounding the school has been gentrified, there are still some sketchy areas that should be avoided at night. You don’t want to make the mistake of getting on the wrong train and ending up in Harlem in the middle of the night. As safe as Columbia is, it is not a fortress void of any criminals. Keep your wits about you, and keep your distance from the local panhandlers. Most are harmless, but you never know.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

There is a safe haven program... There is a safe haven program where various shops and such around the area can call Columbia directly to get you an escort back to campus should you ever feel uneasy about heading back on your own. You can call for an escort at any point if you don’t feel it’s safe for you to return by yourself. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

It’s very safe on campus, and the... It’s very safe on campus, and the NYPD takes great care of the rest of the city. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

There are literally cop cars... There are literally cop cars parked on every other block. Seriously. There are NYPD squad cars with two policemen in them. They aren’t there to bust underage drinkers; they are there to make sure all the students, many of whom are sons and daughters of rich kids, stay safe. You don’t have to worry about safety. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Security is everywhere on campus.... Security is everywhere on campus. You hear about more crimes from students than you do from neighborhood people, but then again, if you’re drunk and wandering around the sketchy streets at 3 a.m., you’re just asking for trouble. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

The campus itself has many... The campus itself has many precautions. You have to use your Columbia ID to get into most places on campus, particularly the library, Lerner Hall (the student center), and any dormitory. Anyone who doesn’t have an ID has to be signed in otherwise. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Did You Know?

Columbia has a world-famous health Web site called Go Ask Alice! (www.goaskalice.columbia.edu) where thousands of questions written by real people are answered by Columbia’s health experts.

Columbia also has a Safe Haven program where students feeling threatened can take refuge in over 30 local businesses until the NYPD or Public Safety is called. Look for the Safe Haven sticker in the window, or check www.columbia.edu/cu/publicsafety for a complete list of participants.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Alexandre Millet
Hometown: Washington D.C., Geneva
Major: Economics and Computer Science

Alexandre has been to Antarctica!

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.