A Guide to Columbia Student Clubs and How to Get Involved

Plus, five student organizations to check out, and guidance on how to find more clubs.

August 15, 2025

Columbia’s energy goes beyond the classroom: find your people in one of its many student clubs and organizations.

Browse the undergraduate Columbia and Barnard listings, and imagine the ways you might explore your own interests or discover new ones. Graduate programs have plenty of groups as well: For example, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has diverse clubs for medical students, as does Columbia Business School

There are hundreds of clubs to choose from—everything from athletic to cultural, academic to religious-spiritual, political-activism-advocacy to service, and special interest to pre-professional.

In addition to online listings, don’t forget to check out clubs and chat with members at resource and activities fairs held on campus in September. University Life's Resource Fair is on Sept. 2!

If you can’t find a club that fits, you can apply to start one of your own. The sky is the limit (literally): Yes, Columbia has a skydiving club (@skydivelions)!

Here are five clubs that give you a sense of the breadth and depth of student groups that are on offer:

Take Flight With the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Columbia's student branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics focuses on the design and construction of model aircraft to compete in the aeronautics event, AIAA Design-Build-Fly Competition.

Join Columbia’s Oldest Student Group, the Philolexian Society

Philo is Columbia's oldest student organization. Formally established in 1802 by associates of Alexander Hamilton, but with roots reaching as far back as 1766, the society promotes literary awareness and the art of rhetoric among its members, who have ranged from Allen Ginsberg to Jacques Barzun.

Go Head-to-Head on Esoteric Knowledge With Columbia Quiz Bowl

The Quiz Bowl club competes in academic trivia competitions hosted by schools throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, and also organizes intramural contests on campus.

Meet People Who Speak, and Think, in Different Languages

The Columbia Group of Language-Oriented Thinkers (get it, GLOT?) was founded to give Columbia students a place to express their love for languages and linguistics. Our community benefits from having a club that connects native speakers with those interested in particular languages; provides a space for language learners in general to meet one another; and supports students interested in pursuing linguistics.

Be a Part of a Hackathon With Columbia Women in Computer Science

This club encourages, guides, and provides outreach to women and gender diverse undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral students in computer science, as well as faculty and staff. They’re known for their annual hackathon, which takes place this fall on Oct. 4-5.