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Columbia University

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Columbia University reviews

4.0

65% would recommend to a friend

(5,409 total reviews)
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Lee C. Bollinger

60% approve of CEO

51% positive business outlook

Columbia University has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 5,409 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Columbia University employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Educación industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

5K reviews
4.0
Sep 16, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The openness, resource and knowledge in such a research and higher-ed institution. All that smart people -- professors and students. Being part of the knowledge-quest keeps you on the edge, and gives you continuous exposure to new developments, young fearless minds. Horns my teaching and performing skills of course. A nice change to a regular full-time R&D job.

Cons

Hardly any career-advancement , since this is a part-time teaching job. Heavy workload considering it's merely an addition to another full-time job. Rather complicated logistics and bureaucracy in the supporting functions.

4.0
Jun 11, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It's a top research institution. You have access to some of the best minds out there. It's also conducive to interdisciplinary research. The location, just outside of NYC, is pretty great - it's perfect for city people (commute by bus) or country people (live in the boonies, commute by car).

Cons

Nobody tells anyone anything! There are few written guidelines and lots of ad hoc rules. Formal vacation days are a pretty new thing. Also, dealing with Columbia University itself can be a challenge.

1.0
May 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits and work-life balance were generally reasonable.

Cons

The Internal Audit department was one of the most disappointing work environments I have experienced. Columbia promotes a culture of collaboration, trust, and support, but that was not reflected in my experience. Leadership micromanaged employees to an excessive degree, especially on work-from-home days. If you stepped away from your computer for a few minutes, it felt like you had to justify your whereabouts. Rather than encouraging employees to learn and grow, management often made people feel foolish for asking questions or not knowing something immediately. The atmosphere was stressful, morale was low, and trust between leadership and staff was virtually nonexistent. I would not recommend this department to anyone seeking a supportive or professional work environment.

Viewing 94 - 96 of 5,409 Reviews

Glassdoor has 6,150 Columbia University reviews submitted anonymously by Columbia University employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Columbia University is right for you.