Credentials verification

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Columbia University requires all incoming students to complete a credentials verification process.

All enrolling students must provide official final transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended, even if a degree was not awarded. Transcripts must include course names and grades for all work completed. For a transcript to be considered official, it must be sent from the Registrar’s Office directly to the GSAPP Office of Admissions via secure electronic delivery or as a completed WES evaluation (if applicable).

Any documents to which a student has had access, including any transcripts uploaded as part of the application, are automatically considered unofficial. Please see below for detailed instructions.

Official transcripts must be received by August 15 in the year of the student’s of enrollment.

Students who attended a College or University in the United States

Electronic transcripts must be sent directly from your school to the GSAPP Admissions Office.

Most electronic transcript delivery options will require an email address and you can input arch_admissions@columbia.edu. If a point of contact is required for electronic requests, all can be addressed to Sara Konekeo, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid.

If your prior institution does not offer electronic delivery, you must send a message to arch_admissions@columbia.edu with link to the institution’s webpage concerning transcript orders to confirm that paper is the only option, and obtain permission from the GSAPP Office of Admissions to submit a paper transcript.

Students who attended a College or University outside the United States

International transcripts require a Course-by-Course evaluation from World Education Services (WES). Please note we require the WES-ICAP (International Credential Advantage Package) option which includes verified transcripts. WES-ICAP should be sent electronically from WES to the GSAPP Office of Admissions. Copies of WES-ICAP uploaded during the application process will be considered unofficial.

Students who completed their studies in China choose WES I-CAP or CHESICC, the credentials verification service affiliated with the PRC’s Ministry of Education. If students utilize CHESICC instead of WES I-CAP, they should arrange for submission of:

Verification Report of China Higher Education Student’s Academic Transcripts and
Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate.

These should be delivered electronically.

Beginning in 2025, GSAPP is also accepting evaluations from the following organizations:

Course-by-Course Report from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
View ECE’s Documentation Requirements and FAQs for more information.
Education Course Report from International Education Evaluations (IEE)
View IEE’s Documentation Requirements and FAQs for more information.
Course Analysis (Course-by-Course) Evaluation from The Evaluation Company (Formerly SpanTran)
View TEC’s Resource Center and FAQs for more information.

Non-Degree Students

All enrolling students in the Non-Degree Programs must provide official transcripts from each institution listed on their application, even if a degree has not been awarded. For a transcript to be considered official, it must be sent from the Registrar’s Office directly to the GSAPP Office of Admissions via secure electronic delivery. Additional Course by Course Evaluations are not required for incoming Non-Degree Students.

Please feel free to reach out to the Admissions Office at arch_admissions@columbia.edu if you have any questions about transcripts.