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Columbia University

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Columbia University reviews

4.0

65% would recommend to a friend

(5,406 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 5,406 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
2.0
Mar 20, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people in general, an amazing University, and some of the most state of the art research being done in academia.

Cons

Co-workers who are uninformed, don't listen, or take informed advice about getting tasks accomplished. A strong desire for the heads of Dept. to "get ahead" versus working with their Department cohorts. Absent leadership that "check in" just for the sake of checking a box with zero follow through. An extremely slow on boarding process A network of individuals who don't communicate their expectations or desires inline with what professional tools are made available to work with. An IT department who continually fail to work with other departments. In essence if it doesn't feel right, abort mission, stay away, and avoid at all costs...even if it looks like a "good fit" at first.

1.0
Jan 2, 2023

Stay away!

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits. After two years, you can get a free education. The healthcare options are great too.

Cons

The university is extremely unpleasant. Gaslighting is common. Management is extremely difficult. HR are there to do the bidding of the deans. It’s a political minefield with no options for advancement. Do not work at Columbia.

3.0
Sep 21, 2021

Assistant Director

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The tuition exemption benefit is by far the best thing Columbia has to offer employees. The health benefits are good (by US standards), and the 21 vacation days + 3 personal days + unlimited sick days are a plus too. Depending on your manager, work/life balance is also good. I am rarely expected to work outside of normal business hours.

Cons

It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get a promotion, much less a raise, at Columbia. HR will look for literally any loophole to disqualify a case for salary adjustment. If upward mobility and increasing your earning potential is important to you, I don't recommend Columbia as an employer. The business processes are also antiquated and frustratingly slow and unproductive.

Viewing 19 - 21 of 5,406 Reviews

Glassdoor has 6,147 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.