Barnard vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY 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 Barnard based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Barnard 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: Barnard College 10:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Barnard vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Columbia University in the City of New York than Barnard ($22,520 vs. $26,407).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 19% lower than at Barnard College ($17,580 vs. $21,714).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Barnard (about $1,957 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $69,888.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Columbia than at Barnard College (about $1,957 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $69,888.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than at Barnard College (52% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($67,010 vs. $63,131).

Barnard vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 30 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
• Incoming Columbia students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Barnard (3.85).
• Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Barnard vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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).

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Barnard College's (92%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $40,700 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $3,653 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($17,847 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($184 vs. $222).
• More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.