Statistics, MA

Program Category: MA Programs
Chair: Bodhisattva Sen
Director of Graduate Studies: Gabriel Young
Website: stat.columbia.edu/ma-programs
Degree Programs: Full-Time/Part-Time: Free-Standing MA

To view this program's application requirements, please click here.

The Department of Statistics offers programs of instruction that include theoretical and applied statistics and probability. The department also offers cooperative programs in Data Science with the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, in the Mathematics of Finance with the Department of Mathematics, in Actuarial Science with the School of Professional Studies, and in Quantitative Methods in Social Science with the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy. Columbia University and the New York area are notable for wide-ranging opportunities for the application of statistics. The department maintains ties with industry, Wall Street, and medical and basic science researchers in New York and also helps to serve the statistical needs of the University community. There is a continuing demand for well-trained statisticians, and the department has been successful in placing its graduates in positions at universities and research institutes as well as in government, business, industry, and Wall Street.

MA in Statistics

The MA program is designed for students with the goal of enhancing their knowledge of statistical theory and applications. Although some students in the MA program are preparing for doctoral study in statistics or other quantitative fields, most are preparing for, or are working in, positions that use statistics, and do not plan on applying to a PhD program. The program has a full-time and part-time option for domestic students. International students fulfill the program requirements full-time.

The MA program consists of four required courses and six or more electives. The required courses include basic probability theory and mathematical statistics as well as courses in standard statistical methods. Many of the courses entail practical experience using statistical software. The majority of our full-time students satisfy the minimum requirements for the MA degree in three semesters. Required courses are scheduled, as much as possible, for early evening times to accommodate students with full-time employment. Students who complete the free-standing MA program and apply to the PhD program will be considered on the same basis as other applicants.

Graduates of the MA program have found employment in a variety of areas, including pharmaceutical research, finance, insurance, market research, public health, and government. Professionals with strong interest in broadening their knowledge of applied statistics to prepare for a new career or advance in their current positions are particularly encouraged to apply. For more information please visit the department website.

Additional MA Programs

The Department of Statistics also participates in the following GSAS MA programs. Click the links below for more information.

Special Admissions Requirements

Preparation for the Statistics MA program should include a thorough knowledge of linear algebra (through the level of MATH UN2020 at Columbia) and advanced calculus (through the level of MATH UN1201). Experience in theoretical or applied probability and statistics is advantageous. Familiarity with computer programming is also helpful.

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit one transcript showing courses and grades per school attended, a statement of academic purpose, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation from academic sources, and a list of undergraduate coursework, including grades received, in the following areas: calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, and advanced mathematics and statistics. Additionally, fall grades may be required from all Statistics MA applicants who have not yet received an undergraduate degree.

A minimum of two academic references is required for all applicants. If you choose to include a recommendation from an internship supervisor, the MA program in Statistics strongly prefers that this reference be related to an in-person internship that lasted at least 2 months.

All applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit English proficiency exam scores. This requirement can be fulfilled through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test (DET). Please click here to learn more about fulfilling the English proficiency requirement.  

For more information, refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.

*To be eligible for admission in GSAS, at least TWO letters must be submitted by academic recommenders. You may include up to four letters in your application, regardless of the number required by your program of interest.

Additional Deadline Information:

All applicants who submit a complete application—including all required supporting materials—by the early deadline of January 10, 2027, can expect to receive an admissions decision by the end of February.
 
Applications received after January 10, 2027, but on or before March 31, 2027, will be reviewed during the second admissions review window and may expect to receive an admissions decision by the end of April.
 
All remaining applicants, including those waitlisted in the first or second rounds, will be reviewed during the third and final admissions review window.
 
The final deadline for Fall 2027 admission is May 6, 2027.