Brandwave

How popular isColumbia University in search?

In August 2026, there were an estimated 673K branded searches for Columbia University worldwide which held steady over the last 11 months. Columbia University holds 8.1% estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide and is ranked 3rd of 17 competitors for search popularity. Worldwide · English terms: these are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

Share of Search, August 2026
  1. Harvard University22%
  2. Stanford University12%
  3. Columbia University8.1%
  4. New York University7%
  5. UCLA6.8%
  6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology4.8%
  7. University of Pennsylvania4.6%
  8. Princeton University4.4%
  9. Yale University4.4%
  10. UC Berkeley4.3%
  11. +7 more
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Which globally sought US universities compete with Columbia University?

Columbia University against globally sought US universities worldwide, by month

Share of Search by month for Harvard University, Stanford University, Columbia University, New York University, UCLA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Yale University, UC Berkeley, Brown University, Cornell University, Duke University, University of Chicago, Caltech, Northwestern University. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of search table
MonthHarvard UniversityStanford UniversityColumbia UniversityNew York UniversityUCLAMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPrinceton UniversityYale UniversityUC BerkeleyBrown UniversityCornell UniversityDuke UniversityUniversity of ChicagoCaltechNorthwestern UniversityJohns Hopkins University
Oct 202519.5%12%7.2%6.3%9%3.9%5%3.9%5.9%3.8%3.9%3.9%3.9%3.8%2.8%3.9%1.4%
Nov 202520.2%12.2%8.2%6.3%8.4%3.9%4.6%3.7%5.5%4.4%3.7%3.7%3.7%3.4%3.2%3.7%1.3%
Dec 20258.1%6%4%3.5%3.4%1.9%2.8%1.8%2.7%1.8%54.6%1.8%2.2%1.5%1.6%1.8%0.66%
Jan 202620.3%13.5%6.7%6.8%6.9%4.1%5.7%3.7%5.5%4.4%4.5%3.7%3.7%2.9%3.2%3%1.3%
Feb 202620.2%13.4%7.4%6.5%7.6%3.7%4.5%4%6%4.1%4%4%4%3.2%2.9%2.7%1.5%
Mar 202619.7%11.8%7.2%6.3%9%3.6%5.9%3.9%4.8%4.7%3.2%3.9%4.8%3.9%2.8%3.2%1.2%
Apr 202618.3%13.5%7.4%6.1%9.3%4.2%4.9%4.1%5%4.9%4.1%3.3%4.1%3.3%3.5%2.7%1.2%
May 202619.2%14.2%7.8%6.4%8%4.3%4.8%4.3%5.2%4.2%3.5%3.5%3.5%3.4%3%3.5%1.3%
Jun 202620.9%12.7%7.6%6.7%6.5%4.6%4.3%4.2%5.1%4.1%4.2%4.2%3.4%3.1%3.6%3.4%1.3%
Jul 202622.1%13.5%8.1%6.2%5.6%4.9%4.6%3.6%5.4%4.3%3.6%3.6%3.6%3.3%3.3%3%1.3%
Aug 202622%12%8.1%7%6.8%4.8%4.6%4.4%4.4%4.3%3.6%3.6%3.6%3.3%3.1%3%1.3%
Sep 2026—————————————————

  1. 1.Harvard University

    22%

    held 1st · 1.8M estimated branded searches · +21.9% vs prior month · -0.1 points

  2. 2.Stanford University

    12%

    held 2nd · 1M estimated branded searches · +8.9% vs prior month · -1.5 points

  3. 3.Columbia University

    8.1%

    held 3rd · 673K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  4. 4.New York University

    7%

    held 4th · 587K estimated branded searches · +38.8% vs prior month · +0.8 points

  5. 5.UCLA

    6.8%

    held 5th · 565K estimated branded searches · +48.6% vs prior month · +1.2 points

  6. 6.Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    4.8%

    moved from 7th to 6th · 398K estimated branded searches · +20.1% vs prior month · -0.1 points

  7. 7.University of Pennsylvania

    4.6%

    moved from 8th to 7th · 381K estimated branded searches · +22.5% vs prior month · 0 points

  8. 8.Princeton University

    4.4%

    moved from 13th to 8th · 368K estimated branded searches · +49.6% vs prior month · +0.8 points

  9. 9.Yale University

    4.4%

    moved from 6th to 9th · 368K estimated branded searches · 0% vs prior month · -1 points

  10. 10.UC Berkeley

    4.3%

    moved from 9th to 10th · 362K estimated branded searches · +22.3% vs prior month · 0 points

  11. 11.Brown University

    3.6%

    moved from 10th to 11th · 301K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  12. 12.Cornell University

    3.6%

    moved from 11th to 12th · 301K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  13. 13.Duke University

    3.6%

    moved from 12th to 13th · 301K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  14. 14.University of Chicago

    3.3%

    moved from 15th to 14th · 275K estimated branded searches · +22% vs prior month · 0 points

  15. 15.Caltech

    3.1%

    moved from 14th to 15th · 262K estimated branded searches · +16% vs prior month · -0.2 points

  16. 16.Northwestern University

    3%

    held 16th · 246K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  17. 17.Johns Hopkins University

    1.3%

    held 17th · 110K estimated branded searches · +21.5% vs prior month · 0 points

Compare search popularity between Columbia University and its closest rivals

How has branded search demand for Columbia University changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Columbia University worldwide held steady at 673K.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Columbia University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide increased from 7.2% to 8.1%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Columbia University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 8.2% in November 2025 and was lowest at 4% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Columbia University rose from 4th to 3rd among globally sought US universities worldwide.

How did search popularity change for globally sought US universities worldwide in August 2026?

  1. In August 2026, Princeton University overtook Brown University to rank 8th among globally sought US universities worldwide, at 4.4%.

  2. In August 2026, UCLA gained estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, from 5.6% to 6.8%.

  3. In August 2026, New York University gained estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, from 6.2% to 7%.

  4. In August 2026, Stanford University lost estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, from 13.5% to 12%.

  5. In August 2026, Yale University lost estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, from 5.4% to 4.4%.

  6. In August 2026, Massachusetts Institute of Technology rose from 7th to 6th among globally sought US universities worldwide.

How is Columbia University measured?

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Columbia University’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

2 branded search terms

  • columbia university
  • columbia university nyc

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