Columbia Science Honors Program (SHP) 2027: Acceptance Rate and How to Apply
Updated: 15th October, 2026
TL;DR
The Columbia Science Honors Program (SHP) is a Saturday science and math program for high school students who live within 75 miles of Columbia's Morningside campus. Columbia doesn't publish an acceptance rate, but you do have to pass a 2-hour online entrance exam. The latest cycle (2026-27) cost $900 for new students, and the application closed April 15, 2026. If you can't commute to New York, look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1-on-1 with a research mentor for an independent project, done online.
What is the Columbia Science Honors Program?
SHP is a Saturday science and math program that Columbia runs for high school students, and classes meet in person only. Sessions run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Morningside campus, from September to May. You need to bring your own laptop. Here are the quick facts, as listed on the official SHP page (as of October 15, 2026).
Application deadline: April 15, 2026 for the 2026-27 cycle. Columbia hasn't posted 2027 dates yet, and it has opened applications in early February.
Duration: One school year, with classes on Saturdays from September to May.
Location: Columbia's Morningside campus in New York City. There is no online option.
Eligibility: Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who live within 75 miles of campus. You can apply in grade 9, 10, or 11.
Cost: $900 a year for new students and $700 for returning students, plus a $50 non-refundable application fee.
Selectivity: Columbia doesn't publish an acceptance rate or a class size. You get in through an entrance exam.
What courses does SHP offer?
Columbia listed 18 courses for Fall 2026, from astronomy and particle physics to Python and science communication. The Spring 2027 term runs January 23 to April 24, and the course list can change by term. Here are some of the Fall 2026 options, per the official SHP page.
Physics and astronomy: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Relativistic Astrophysics, Quantum Matter, Particle Physics, and The Physics of Fusion Energy.
Chemistry: Organic Chemistry with Laboratory, Introduction to Organic Chemistry, and Introduction to Environmental Chemistry.
Biology and medicine: Human Physiology, Immunology and Toxicology, Introduction to Space Medicine, and Introduction to Quantitative Biotechnology.
Computing and data: Computer Programming in Python, Competitive Programming, and Social Statistics.
Research and communication: Social Science Research Techniques for STEM Projects, Bench to Broadcast: Science Communication, and Bioengineering and Biomimetic Design.
What is the Columbia Science Honors Program acceptance rate?
Columbia doesn't publish an SHP acceptance rate or a cohort size. The program calls itself highly selective, but no official page says how many students apply or get in. That means any percentage you see online is a guess, not an official number. We won't invent one either. What Columbia does say is that admission rests on the entrance exam, plus your grade report, transcript, essay, and one recommendation. If you also want a sense of Columbia's wider admissions picture, read this guide to Columbia University's acceptance rate. Strong applicants often build their record with other STEM extracurricular activities too.
Who can apply to Columbia SHP?
You can apply if you're in grade 9, 10, or 11 and will be in grade 10, 11, or 12 the next school year. You also must live within a 75-mile radius of campus, because Columbia says the program offers in-person instruction only. That rules out most students outside the New York metro area. The page lists no minimum GPA. If you live too far away, look at this list of research opportunities in New York or at remote options instead.
How much does Columbia SHP cost?
New students pay $900 for the 2026-27 year, split into $450 each semester. Returning students pay $700, or $350 each semester. You also pay a $50 non-refundable application fee. Columbia offers program fee waivers for documented financial hardship. Those are granted after admission, and every applicant gets equal consideration regardless of need. You can also ask for an application fee waiver through a request form. All of this comes from the official SHP page (as of October 15, 2026). The page lists two tuition figures in different spots, so confirm the amount with the program before you pay.
How do you apply to Columbia SHP, and when is the deadline?
The application opens in early February, and the 2026-27 deadline was April 15, 2026. Columbia hasn't posted 2027 dates yet, so plan around the 2026 timeline below, per the SHP announcements page.
Step | Date for the 2026-27 cycle |
Application opens | Early February (February 2026) |
Application and $50 fee due | April 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. |
Transcripts and recommendation due | April 30, 2026 |
Entrance exam | Late May or early June 2026 |
Decisions by email | July 15, 2026 |
Here are the steps.
Apply online. Submit the form with your high school grade report and an essay.
Send your transcript. It's due April 30 in the 2026 cycle.
Get one recommendation. A math teacher, science teacher, counselor, or principal can write it. Extra letters aren't reviewed.
Pay the $50 fee or request a waiver. Use a non-school email address on your application.
Take the entrance exam. It's online, and it comes after the deadline.
What is on the SHP entrance exam, and how do you prepare?
The entrance exam is an online test of about 2 hours that covers math and science. Columbia says you should know algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, and some elementary science (per the official SHP page). Here is a simple way to prepare.
Review the named math topics. Start with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and probability.
Refresh basic science. Go back over your school notes in physics, chemistry, and biology.
Practice under a timer. Do problem sets in 2-hour blocks so the pace feels normal.
Check your setup. Use a reliable computer and a quiet room for the online test.
Is Columbia SHP worth it?
SHP is worth it if you live near New York, love math or science, and can give up Saturday mornings for a school year. It's a class-based program, not a mentored research project, so it won't leave you with a paper of your own. Here is how the facts add up.
Pros -
You study on Columbia's Morningside campus, with 18 advanced courses listed for Fall 2026.
Tuition is $900 for new students and $700 for returning students, and Columbia offers fee waivers for documented hardship.
Classes meet only on Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., so they fit around a normal school week.
The entrance exam is online, so you don't have to travel to take it.
Cons -
Classes are in person only, and you must live within 75 miles of campus.
Columbia doesn't publish an acceptance rate or class size, so you can't judge your odds.
The program runs from September to May, which is a long weekly commitment.
The official page doesn't list college credit, and the program ends in coursework, not a research paper.
If you want a finished research paper for your application, pair SHP with a summer research internship or an independent project.
Frequently asked questions: Columbia Science Honors Program
Does Columbia SHP look good for college applications?
It can show colleges that you took advanced science and math on a university campus. Columbia's SHP page doesn't claim that the program improves your odds of getting into Columbia. Colleges also tend to value work you did on your own. A project you led, such as a research paper, shows that kind of initiative. Treat SHP as one strong piece of your record, not the whole story.
Does Columbia SHP give college credit?
No credit is listed. Columbia's official page doesn't mention college credit for SHP (as of October 15, 2026). It's an enrichment program, so the value is the coursework and the experience. If you need credit, ask the program directly before you enroll.
When do Columbia SHP admission decisions come out?
Columbia emailed 2026-27 decisions on July 15, 2026, per its SHP announcements page. That's several weeks after the late spring entrance exam. Columbia hasn't posted 2027 dates yet. You can expect a similar mid-July timeline, but check the page each spring.
Do you need your own laptop for SHP?
Yes. Columbia's page says students must bring a personal laptop. Plan for this before your first Saturday class. If a laptop would be a financial burden, ask the program office about options, since the page doesn't list any.
Is there a summer program at Columbia like SHP?
Yes, Columbia Engineering also runs summer programs, such as SHAPE. Read this guide to SHAPE at Columbia University for details. Another option is the HK Maker Lab at Columbia, a summer biomedical engineering program for New York City high schoolers. Both run in summer rather than on school-year Saturdays.
What can you do if you don't live near Columbia?
You have plenty of options that don't need a New York commute. Look at remote and local programs in this list of summer research internships for high school students. You can also start your own project with a teacher or a mentor, and use STEM extracurricular activities to build your record.
Can't get to Columbia on Saturdays, or want a research option with no 75-mile limit? Look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you with a research mentor from a top university for a 1-on-1 project that ends in your own research paper, done entirely online, with no geographic or attendance restrictions. Apply here. If cost is the main barrier, also look at the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere Education and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics before beginning a PhD at Harvard Business School. A former McKinsey & Company consultant and former researcher, his research has been covered by the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, and the Washington Post. In his articles for Forbes, he writes on what students and professionals can learn from high school research, high school passion projects, critical thinking, and mentorship. At Lumiere, he leads a selective research program where students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper. Connect with him on LinkedIn.