Columbia Business School was established to solve a basic problem: As advanced economies began to fill with more entrepreneurial and office-oriented work, it became apparent that there was a lack of knowledgeable, capable managers and administrators.
The Trustees of Columbia knew that the University could address this need, and with the support of influential business figures, founded the School of Business in 1916. The School started with 11 faculty members teaching an inaugural class of 61 students, including eight women. Within a few years, the number of students enrolled at the School had grown enormously, and the School added new departments, new faculty members, student organizations, and a PhD program to respond to increased demand.
Over the past 100+ years, our community has not only helped define the importance of an MBA degree, but championed research and innovations that have changed the landscape of how businesses operate, how institutions create value, and how leaders promote the larger social good.
Today, as the School has evolved to meet the needs of an ever-changing business world, our numbers and our impact have multiplied. Throughout this evolution, we have maintained an unwavering commitment to improving the world of business through innovative education, an expanding global network, and cutting-edge ideas and research.
To continue our mission as a global leader in business education, in January 2022 the School is moving to a new location 10 blocks north of its current location. The Manhattanville campus was designed by renowned New York architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, in collaboration with FXCollaborative, and reflects the fast-paced, high-tech, and highly social character of business in the 21st century.
The state-of-the-art facilities provide spaces that lend themselves to a variety of uses, while fostering a deep sense of community — spaces where students, faculty members, and the larger business community can gather and exchange ideas.
Visit Columbia Business School on the Manhattanville Campus →