What Columbia Video Network does

Columbia Video Network (CVN) is the online graduate engineering education arm of Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, established in 1986 as one of the nation's first online graduate engineering programs. CVN serves working professionals and remotely located students globally, enabling them to earn Columbia engineering credentials without relocating to New York. The portfolio spans part-time Master of Science and Doctor of Engineering Science degrees across 13 fields of study (Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Data Sciences, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and Materials Science and Engineering), plus 12-credit Certificate Programs, Non-Degree single courses, Executive Education for corporate clients, and free Coursera MOOCs. Columbia Video Network's most recent strategic product is the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) Online — a cohort-based, five-semester program with three concentrations (AI in Finance & Operations, AI Infrastructure, and AI and Advanced Computing) accepting applications for Fall 2026.

CVN delivers instruction via a proprietary video network that streams Columbia Engineering faculty lectures live and on-demand, with remote exam proctoring options and integration into Columbia's student information systems. Degrees and certificates awarded are identical to those conferred on on-campus students — no distinction between online and on-campus credentials appears on transcripts or diplomas. The platform supports both asynchronous self-paced learning and, for Computer Science and AI programs, cohort-based admissions with structured progression. Beyond degree programs, CVN operates Columbia Engineering Executive Education (custom corporate programs including Cybersecurity, AI, Big Data, Construction Management, Engineering Leadership, and the 3-day "Agentic AI for Business" course) and a Boeing Learning Together Program, plus Coursera MOOCs in Construction Management, Financial Engineering and Risk Management, and First Principles of Computer Vision.

CVN's revenue model is per-credit tuition plus fees. The published rate is $2,822 per credit hour; estimated total costs are approximately $9,361 for a single non-degree course, $35,549 for a four-course Certificate (including application fee), $88,715 for a 10-course MS degree, and $124,159 for a DES doctoral program (assuming two six-credit research courses), with a $395 CVN fee per course, an $85 application fee, and a $105 one-time transcript fee. Billing is pay-as-you-go for individual courses and multi-year for certificates and degrees. CVN markets primarily through virtual information sessions (monthly webinars), the cvn.columbia.edu website, email inquiry forms, and organic social (LinkedIn, YouTube), and operates as an academic unit within Columbia University rather than a separately reported commercial entity — no standalone revenue, headcount, or financial statements are publicly disclosed.

Name

Columbia Video Network

Legal name

Columbia University in the City of New York

Website

https://cvn.columbia.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Columbia Video Network (CVN) is the online graduate engineering education platform of Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, founded in 1986. It serves working professionals globally with part-time MS degrees, certificates, executive education, and MOOCs delivered via live and on-demand video.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Graduate Engineering Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL)

Keywords

• Online engineering education
• Graduate engineering programs
• Distance learning degrees
• Professional certification programs
• Executive education training

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Graduate Engineering Tuition: CVN generates revenue through tuition charges per credit hour plus fees. Students pay per course or per semester, with tuition ranging from approximately $9,361 for a single non-degree course to $88,715 for a full MS degree (10 courses). Additional fees include CVN fees ($395 per course), application fees ($85), and transcript fees ($105 one-time).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Columbia Video Network (CVN) is the online education platform of Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, offering part-time, fully online graduate engineering degree programs (MS, DES), Certificate Programs, Non-Degree courses, Executive Education for corporate clients, and MOOCs on Coursera. Courses are delivered via a proprietary video streaming platform enabling both live and asynchronous instruction from Columbia Engineering faculty. Degrees awarded are indistinguishable from on-campus Columbia University degrees, with no online designation on transcripts or diplomas.

Product overview

Columbia Video Network (CVN) is Columbia University's online education platform for engineering programs, established in 1986. The core offering consists of part-time online graduate engineering degree programs across 13 fields of study (Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and others) delivered via video streaming. The portfolio includes the flagship Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) Online—a cohort-based five-semester program with three concentrations (AI in Finance & Operations, AI Infrastructure, and AI and Advanced Computing). Supporting offerings include Certificate Programs (12-credit professional certifications), Non-Degree Programs (individual courses), Executive Education (customized corporate training), and MOOCs on Coursera (free specializations). Video-based asynchronous course delivery enables working professionals to study remotely, with live participation optional.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master's Degrees (Online Engineering Programs) Part-time online graduate engineering degree programs across 13 fields of study including Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Data Sciences, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and Materials Science and Engineering. Degrees are indistinguishable from on-campus programs and delivered via video streaming.
• Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) Online Part-time, fully online, cohort-based AI master's degree with a rigorous five-semester curriculum. Includes three concentrations: AI in Finance & Operations, AI Infrastructure, and AI and Advanced Computing. Awarded a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree with concentration annotation on transcript. Requires a capstone project integrating core curriculum skills with industry partner engagement.
• Certificate Programs Professional certification programs consisting of four courses (12 credits) in specialized engineering fields including Data Sciences, Financial Engineering, Civil Engineering (Construction Management), Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications, Wireless Communications), Computer Science (Information Systems, Intelligent Systems, Multimedia Networking), Materials Science (Nanotechnology), and Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing, Sustainable Energy).
• Non-Degree Programs Single courses or preparatory coursework for students planning to apply to matriculated programs. Students can take up to six credits or two classes and apply those toward an MS program. Applications are processed within two weeks.
• Columbia Engineering Executive Education Customized professional courses for corporate clients taught by Columbia faculty and industry experts. Programs include Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Management, Construction Management, and Engineering Leadership. Flexible scheduling for single weeks or weekend sessions delivered online or on-site.
• Agentic AI for Business 3-day executive education program focused on autonomous AI agents and their applications in business operations and decision-making.
• CVN MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) Free online courses accessible to learners worldwide through the Coursera platform. Specializations include Construction Management, Financial Engineering and Risk Management, and First Principles of Computer Vision. Covers topics in financial engineering, computer vision, business analytics, and construction management.
• Data Sciences Certification Program Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences covering foundational data science skills through four graduate-level courses: Algorithms for Data Science, Probability and Statistics for Data Science, Machine Learning for Data Science, and Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Degrees are indistinguishable from those awarded to on-campus students - no mention of CVN, online learning, or distance education on transcript or diploma

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• edX (2U): edX partners with universities to deliver online master's programs (including Harvard, MIT, Berkeley) at price points below traditional Ivy tuition. Provides an alternative online graduate pathway that competes with CVN for working professionals seeking flexible, lower-cost credentials.
• Coursera: Coursera hosts CVN's own MOOCs and is also the largest platform for online graduate credentials from top universities (e.g., Illinois, Michigan, Colorado). Indirectly competes by offering lower-cost alternatives to CVN's MS and certificate programs, particularly for international students.

Direct peers

• Georgia Tech OMSCS: Georgia Tech's Online Master of Science in Computer Science is the largest online MS in engineering in the US, serving thousands of working professionals with rolling admissions and low per-credit tuition. Directly comparable to CVN's CS offerings in target student (working professionals), delivery (online), and credential (MS from a top engineering school).
• Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals: Johns Hopkins' online engineering graduate programs serve working professionals with a broad portfolio including AI, CS, and Data Science. Comparable to CVN in target audience, delivery model, and degree offerings, with similar tuition tier.
• Penn Engineering Online: UPenn's online engineering master's programs (AI, Computer Science, Data Science, etc.) target working professionals seeking Ivy League credentials online. Closely comparable to CVN's degree portfolio, brand positioning, and direct-to-consumer enrollment model.
• Stanford Online: Stanford's online graduate and professional programs serve working professionals seeking elite engineering credentials, with similar pricing tier and brand-driven value proposition. Directly competes with CVN for the same Ivy/Tier-1 online MS segment, particularly in AI and electrical engineering.
• UIUC Master of Computer Science in Data Science (MCS-DS): University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's online MCS-DS is one of the largest and most established online data science master's programs, serving working professionals at a significantly lower price point than CVN. Comparable in audience (working professionals) and online delivery, but competes on value rather than brand.
• Cornell Engineering M.Eng Online: Cornell's online Master of Engineering programs serve working professionals seeking Ivy League engineering credentials with similar tuition and credit structures to CVN. Directly competes for the same target segment across multiple engineering disciplines.

Broad incumbents

• Purdue University Online: Purdue's online engineering programs (including the highly ranked online MS in Computer Science) serve working professionals at scale with broader program breadth than CVN. Competes in the same online engineering segment but at a lower price point and without Ivy League branding.
• MIT Professional Education: MIT's professional and continuing education arm offers short courses, certificates, and select online programs in engineering and AI. Overlaps with CVN's executive education and certificate offerings but does not offer full online MS degrees in the same breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-_qV4_UH2rhmdhmf19wCQQ/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/columbia-video-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Video Network