Whether you’re coming to Columbia from within New York City or from thousands of miles away, we want your move to campus to be as smooth as possible. The scale of the city may seem intimidating at first, but you’ll soon be a pro at navigating the Morningside Heights campus and beyond, starting with the tips below.

Fun Fact: On average, about 62,000 new people move to NYC each year!

Tip #1: Get to know NYC public transit

The most inexpensive way to get around NYC is by using public transit. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) includes the subway and buses. A new transit card currently costs $1 and a single ride costs $2.75, no matter how far you travel. When you swipe into a subway station or a bus, you're given one free transfer to another bus within two hours of when you originally paid your fare.

The MTA recently launched a new MYmta site and free app (available on iTunes or Google Play), which features personalized trip planning, real-time service updates, accessibility information and more.

Tip #2: Plan how you'll get to campus

Whether you arrive by car, bus, train or airplane, check out the arrivals section of the “moving in” page on Countdown to Columbia for tips on navigating to campus.

The closest subway station to campus is 116th Street–Columbia University on the 1 line, which is accessible from major train and bus stations like Times Square–42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal, 34th Street–Penn Station, Grand Central–42nd Street and George Washington Bridge Bus Station.

If you're flying into any of the three area airports (LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport), we also highlight tips on taking taxis and public transportation.

Tip #3: Be street smart

Columbia University was recently named one of the Safest Colleges in America by the National Council for Home Safety and Security. But that doesn't mean you should let your guard down in the city!

At a mandatory event during the New Student Orientation Program, Columbia University Public Safety will give you an overview of the security, personal safety, proactive crime prevention programs and services they offer. In the meantime, check out Public Safety's crime prevention tips.

Tip #4: Take a campus shuttle

From 6:00 p.m.–4:00 a.m. daily, Public Safety runs a shuttle service to ensure students can travel safety after dark. It utilizes two shuttle buses traveling on different routes in 30-minute loops across the Morningside Heights and Manhattanville areas. Shuttles are wheelchair accessible, and all you need to do is show your CUID! You can track where Columbia's shuttles are from your phone with the Passio Go! app.

For those who prefer to walk, Public Safety also offers safety escorts and will dispatch two specially trained students to walk with you to your door. This service is available daily, 7:00 p.m.–3:00 a.m., by calling (212)-854-SAFE (7233).

Photo credits (top to bottom): (1–2) Killian Young/Columbia College, (3) Columbia Transportation