Columbia University H-1B Visa Sponsorship Data 2026
Columbia University filed 252 H-1B labor condition applications in fiscal year 2026, ranking #159 out of 1,000 sponsoring employers in our database — down 37.5% from last year.
Of those filings, 63.9% were certified by the Department of Labor, with a median offered salary of $81,800, below the national H-1B median of $126,403.
19% of Columbia University's filings were at prevailing-wage Level III or above. Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, that translates to an average of 1.9 lottery entries per candidate — roughly in line with the broader market.
Columbia University's most-sponsored roles in FY2026 were Associate Research Scientist (90 cases), Postdoctoral Research Scientist (46 cases), Assistant Professor (34 cases). Its heaviest H-1B hiring was in NY (251), VA (1).
Columbia University appears to be a cap-exempt type employer (such as a university, nonprofit research organization, or hospital). Cap-exempt employers can sponsor H-1B workers at any time of year without going through the annual lottery — always confirm directly with the employer's immigration team.
FY2026 filings
252
Rank #159 nationally
Approval rate
63.9%
161 certified
Median salary
$81,800
National median $126,403
Avg. lottery entries
1.9×
Wage-weighted system
H-1B lottery positioning
Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, Level I filings receive 1 entry, Level II get 2, Level III get 3, and Level IV get 4. 19% of Columbia University's FY2026 filings were Level III or above, giving its candidates an average of 1.9 entries per filing.
Most-sponsored job titles
| Job title | Filings | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Research Scientist | 90 | $96,323 |
| Postdoctoral Research Scientist | 46 | $93,732 |
| Assistant Professor | 34 | $267,708 |
| Associate | 31 | $78,719 |
| Instructor | 6 | $121,983 |
| Lecturer In Discipline | 6 | $96,523 |
| Associate Research Scholar | 5 | $81,486 |
| Lecturer In Chinese | 4 | $81,901 |
| Postdoctoral Research Scholar | 3 | $78,758 |
| Professor | 3 | $433,333 |
Top worksite states
NY
251 filings
VA
1 filings
Year-over-year trend
Columbia University filed 403 H-1B applications in FY2025 versus 252 in FY2026 — a decrease of 37.5%.
Columbia University H-1B FAQs
Does Columbia University sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes. Columbia University filed 252 H-1B labor condition applications in FY2026, ranking #159 nationally. A labor condition application (LCA) is the required first step before an H-1B petition, so this filing volume is a strong signal of active sponsorship.
What is Columbia University's H-1B approval rate?
63.9% of Columbia University's FY2026 H-1B filings were certified by the Department of Labor. Note that LCA certification is distinct from USCIS petition approval, but a high certification rate indicates clean, compliant filings.
How much does Columbia University pay H-1B workers?
Columbia University's median offered salary for H-1B roles in FY2026 was $81,800 (average $123,537). Individual offers vary by role, level, and worksite — the tables above break it down by job title.
Which jobs does Columbia University sponsor most on H-1B?
Associate Research Scientist leads with 90 filings in FY2026 at an average offered salary of $96,323. Other frequently sponsored roles are listed in the table above.
Where does Columbia University hire H-1B workers?
NY is Columbia University's top H-1B worksite state with 251 filings in FY2026, followed by VA (1). Worksite reflects where the job is performed, which may differ from headquarters.
What are the H-1B lottery odds at Columbia University?
No employer can guarantee lottery selection, but wage levels matter: under the 2026 wage-weighted system, Level I filings get 1 entry while Level IV get 4. Based on Columbia University's FY2026 wage mix, its candidates averaged 1.9 entries per filing. Higher-wage offers at the same employer carry better odds.
Other top H-1B sponsors
St Jude Childrens Research Hospital
254 filings
Bofa Securities
252 filings
Intellectt
252 filings
Purdue University
252 filings
Data source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — Labor Condition Application disclosure data, FY2024–FY2026. An LCA is filed by the employer before an H-1B petition; disclosure data does not indicate USCIS petition outcomes. Last updated: October 2026.