Amherst vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Amherst vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Columbia? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Columbia ($19,049 vs. $22,520).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 4.4% lower than at Amherst College ($17,580 vs. $18,390).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Amherst (about $1,365 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $70,480.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Columbia than at Amherst College (about $1,365 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $70,480.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Columbia University in the City of New York (59% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students ($68,591 vs. $67,010).

Amherst vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Columbia? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Columbia and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 10 points higher than at Amherst (1540).
• Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Columbia (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have the same average high school GPA (3.91) as students at Columbia (3.91).
• Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Amherst vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Columbia? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Columbia University in the City of New York's (93%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $25,600 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $8,525 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($12,975 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($134 vs. $222).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.