Columbia vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 15,888 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Columbia vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon ($22,520 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 3.2% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($17,580 vs. $18,166).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $5,599 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at Columbia than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $5,599 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than at Carnegie Mellon University (52% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 39.3% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($67,010 vs. $48,107).

Columbia vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon and Columbia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 10 points higher than at Carnegie Mellon (1540).
• Incoming Columbia students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Carnegie Mellon (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Carnegie Mellon (3.89).
• Carnegie Mellon has a higher acceptance rate (11.7%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Columbia vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia and Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Carnegie Mellon graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $102,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Columbia graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($222 vs. $271).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.