Notable Alumni of Columbia University

Columbia University boasts a rich history of producing influential figures across various disciplines. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence and groundbreaking research, Columbia has nurtured the talents of numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to society. This article explores the lives and achievements of some of the university's most notable alumni, showcasing the breadth and depth of their impact on the world. As of the 2025 awards, 104 Nobel laureates have been affiliated with Columbia University as alumni or faculty.

Nobel Laureates Affiliated with Columbia University

Columbia University has a strong association with the Nobel Prize, with 104 laureates affiliated with the university as alumni or faculty as of 2025. Among these, 72 are Nobel laureates in natural sciences. Forty-six are Columbia alumni (graduates and attendees) and 34 have been long-term academic members of the Columbia faculty. Thirty-three laureates have won the Nobel Prize in Physics, more than any other subject. It is important to note that this list considers Nobel laureates as equal individuals and does not consider their various prize shares or if they received the prize more than once.

Notable Nobel Laureates

John Clauser (M.A. 1966, Ph.D.)
Samuel J.: Nobel laureate.
Harry B.: Nobel laureate.
Leon M. Lederman: Nobel Laureate, discoverer of muon neutrino '62, bottom quark '77. Professor (1951-1989); M.A., Ph.D.
Isidor Isaac Rabi: professor, Ph.D.

Political Leaders and Public Servants

Columbia University has a long-standing tradition of producing leaders in the realm of politics and public service. Its alumni have shaped national and international policies, leaving an indelible mark on the course of history.

Presidents of the United States

Barack Obama: Enrolled in Columbia University 1981-1983, graduated with Bachelor of Arts in international relations and political science. Served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Prior to becoming president, he served as a U.S. senator representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008 and as an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004. Obama laid the intellectual foundations that would shape his future political career at Columbia. Before becoming President of the United States, Obama was a transfer student in Columbia’s undergraduate political science program, perfecting his ability to inspire crowds and move mountains.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Studied at Columbia University from 1904 to 1907. The 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the only president to have served more than two terms. Roosevelt entered Columbia Law School in 1904 but dropped out after three years when he passed the New York Bar Exam. He then pursued a career at a prestigious law firm but did not feel passionately about it so moved into politics in 1910 where he became a member of the New York Senate. As World War I broke out, Roosevelt was appointed assistant secretary of the Navy and later served as the governor of New York despite recent paralysis of his legs. In 1932, Roosevelt had a landslide victory in the presidential elections and held this role until his death in 1945.
Theodore Roosevelt: The 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. He was previously involved in New York politics, including serving as the state's 33rd governor for two years. In 1901, at age 43, Teddy Roosevelt became the youngest president in history when William McKinley was assassinated.

International Leaders

Ashraf Ghani: (M.A. 1977, Ph.D.)
Kassim al-Rimawi: (M.A. 1954, Ph.D.)
Hafizullah Amin: (Ph.D.)
Mark Eyskens: (M.A.)
Sun Fo: (M.S.)
Radovan Karadžić: (M.D.)
Wellington Koo: (B.A., Ph.D.) twice Premier of China (1924; '26-27); interim President ('26-27); Amb.

Other Notable Figures in Politics and Law

Alexander Hamilton: Attended Columbia in 1773 when it was still called King's College. He was one of the seven founding fathers of America and the government’s first secretary of the treasury. Hamilton attended Columbia College, then known as King’s College from 1773 to 1774 but was unable to graduate due to the British occupation of New York City in the Revolutionary War. During the war, Hamilton led a troop of artillary soldiers in many battles including the Battle of Princeton and achieved notoriety for his service.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Transferred from Harvard Law to Columbia Law in 1958, where she received top honors in her graduating class. Served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020. She was nominated by President Bill Clinton to replace retiring justice Byron White, and at the time was viewed as a moderate consensus-builder. Her time at Columbia sparked her lifelong passion for fighting gender discrimination and advocating for justice.
Caroline Kennedy: In 1988 graduated with Juris Doctor. Served as the United States ambassador to Australia from 2022 to 2024. Kennedy previously served in the Obama administration as the United States ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017.

Leaders in Business and Finance

Columbia University's alumni have made significant strides in the world of business and finance, leading some of the most successful companies and shaping the global economy.

Warren Buffett: In 1951 graduated with Master of Science in economics. He earned a Masters in economics from Columbia University before emerging into the world of business. An American investor and philanthropist who currently serves as the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett delivered newspapers as a child in Nebraska before moving on to earn his master's in economics from Columbia in 1951. The legendary value-investor made his name through a near-clairvoyant knack for making smart, long-term bets on companies like Coca-Cola and American Express, amassing a fortune that stands at $65 billion.
Ursula Burns: Xerox CEO, got her master's in mechanical engineering from Columbia in 1981. She joined Xerox right out of school, and in 2009 she was named CEO, becoming the first female African-American chief executive of a Fortune 500 company.
Sallie Krawcheck: Graduated from Columbia Business School in 1992. Krawcheck was a prominent figure on Wall Street, serving as the CEO of Citi Global Wealth Management and later as president of global wealth and investment management at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Prominent Figures in Arts, Literature, and Entertainment

Columbia University has fostered creativity and artistic expression, producing a diverse array of talent in the fields of arts, literature, and entertainment.

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Timothée Hal Chalamet: An actor and film producer. Chalamet attended Columbia University at age 17 for one year, studying cultural anthropology before transferring to New York University to pursue acting further.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Studied Eastern religions and philosophy at Columbia University but dropped out after two years to focus on his acting career in 1999. An American actor who has worked on screen and stage for over thirty years.
James Franco: Graduated Columbia University School of the Arts with a Masters in writing in 2010. An American actor and filmmaker.
Alicia Keys: Accepted to Columbia University at age 16, however decided to leave after a month to pursue music further. An American singer and songwriter.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Took a break from acting to attend Columbia in 2000, where he studied history, literature, and French poetry.
Isaac Asimov: Achieved his Bachelor’s, Masters and PhD degree in chemistry all from Columbia University from 1936 to 1948 despite challenges in his admission due to discrimination against jewish students. An American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University.
Leonard Cohen: A Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist.
Amelia Earhart: Enrolled in medical studies at Columbia University in 1919 but left after a year to be with her parents in California. An American aviation pioneer.
Julia Stiles: An American actress.
Maggie Gyllenhaal: Studied literature and East Asian studies at Columbia. An American actress and filmmaker.
Lauren Graham: An American actress and author.
Anna Paquin: A New Zealand actress.
Allen Ginsberg: Met Lucien Carr, Jack Kerouac, and many other fellow Beatniks while a student at Columbia. The beat poet, famous for his poem Howl, was a proud Columbia alum. Columbia was where he met future literary giants like Jack Kerouac.
Ira Gershwin: Took pre-med classes at Columbia around 1918 but never graduated. Pulitzer Prize-winning American lyricist.
Federico García Lorca: Was a student for only a short time in 1929 before he left to pursue theater. A Spanish poet and dramatist.
J.D. Salinger: Attended Columbia in the late '30s but never graduated. Author.
Hunter S. Thompson: Audited several courses at Columbia University while pursuing his writing ambitions. A renound American author and journalist.
Art Garfunkel: Was awarded a Masters in mathematics education from Columbia university in 1967. An American singer and poet known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the music group ‘Simon & Garfunkel’.
Miloš Forman: Film director, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, The People vs.

Scientists, Innovators and Academics

Columbia University has been a hub for scientific discovery and academic advancement, producing groundbreaking research and influential scholars.

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Obtained his Master’s degree in 1989 and in 1991 was awarded his PhD from Columbia University. An American astrophysicist, science communicator and author.
Baruj Benacerraf: Began his academic career at Columbia University where he earned his Bachelor’s in 1942. An American immunologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his role in the discovery of the major histocompatibility complex.
Milton Friedman: Studied statistics at Columbia University from 1933 to 1934. An American economist and statistician.
Karl Maramorosch: (Ph.D.)
Peter Molnar (Ph.D.)
Francisco J. Ayala: (Ph.D.)
Richard S. Hamilton: Davies Professor of mathematics; awarded Shaw Prize (2011), Leroy P.
Eric Kandel: Neuroscientist, 2000 Nobel laureate; Biophysicist, uncovered secrets of synapses.
Arthur M. Langer: professor of professional practice, academic director of the M.S.
Norman Foster Ramsey Jr.: professor (1940-1947) (B.A. 1935, Ph.D.
Horst Ludwig Störmer: I.I.
Ruth Westheimer: Received a doctorate of education from Columbia University Teacher's College in 1970.

Athletes

Lou Gehrig: Attended Columbia University where he studied engineering before leaving to pursue a career in baseball. An American professional baseball player who played 17 seasons for the New York Yankees.

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