Columbia University Enrollment Plummets Amid Campus Chaos

The prestigious Ivy League institution, Columbia University, is grappling with a tumultuous period marked by anti-Israel protests, funding disputes, and high-profile resignations. According to reports, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has ignited anti-Israel riots and demonstrations on Columbia's campus, leading to significant repercussions for the university.

A Decline in Applications

Students who have been accepted to Columbia University are increasingly choosing to enroll elsewhere, reflecting a decline in the institution's appeal. A college admissions consultant revealed that out of 10 seniors whom he guided through the admissions process, all opted to attend other universities instead of Columbia. "This would not have been the case three years ago," stated Christopher Rim, CEO of Command Education. "The actual brand has been tarnished."

Rim further pointed out that students enrolling for the 2025-2026 academic year are those who were unable to secure admission to other highly ranked institutions. He emphasized the instability and unpredictability on campus, describing Columbia as a center of "up-and-down craziness" that undermines its reputation for higher education.

Shifting Enrollment Preferences

Students accepted to Columbia are now favoring universities such as New York University, Duke University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Washington University in St. Louis. This shift in enrollment preferences underscores the negative impact of the protests and the subsequent controversies on Columbia's standing.

Federal Funding Dispute

The situation escalated when President Donald Trump intervened, revoking $400 million in federal funding from Columbia after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, accused of leading the anti-Israel protests. The university caved to Trump's demands, including banning protesters from wearing face coverings, further enraging students and graduates.

Leadership Resignations

The turmoil led to the resignation of former Columbia President Minouche Shafik in August, followed by interim President Katrina Armstrong's resignation at the end of last week after serving less than eight months in her role. These high-profile departures highlight the deep-seated issues plaguing the university.

Harvard Faces Similar Challenges

The unrest on Columbia's campus is not an isolated incident; similar challenges are being faced by other Ivy League institutions. At Harvard, Interim Dean of Social Science David M. Cutler reportedly dismissed faculty leaders from the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), citing insufficient balance in programming on Palestine.

This move sparked condemnation from Harvard's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, who argued that such a standard had never been applied to other centers and that it constituted an ideological attempt to undermine academic freedom. The Department of Education also announced a review of federal contracts and grants at Harvard as part of the administration's crackdown on antisemitism on campuses.