Columbia vs. Carnegie Mellon

Should I go to Columbia University in the City of New York or Carnegie Mellon University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia or Carnegie Mellon is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Columbia University in the City of New York vs. Carnegie Mellon University comparison
Columbia University in the City of New York Carnegie Mellon University College 3 College 4
Columbia University in the City of New York Carnegie Mellon University
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Overview

Columbia Carnegie Mellon
Location New York, NY Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 34,782 16,002
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #41
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu cmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Carnegie Mellon
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $59,864
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $59,864
Room & Board $16,286 $16,486
Avg Net Price $22,058 $33,499
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $43,966
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 47%

Admission

Columbia Carnegie Mellon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 34,261
Admitted 2,404 3,873
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 11.3%
Enrolled % 64.1% 44.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.89
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 34/35 34/35
SAT Range 1490/1580 1490/1570
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia Carnegie Mellon
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Engineering (26%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Business (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia Carnegie Mellon
Graduation Rate 93% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $102,700
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $26,250
Median Loan Payment $222 $271

Diversity

Columbia Carnegie Mellon
% Men 46% 56%
% Women 54% 44%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 32%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 15% 18%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

Columbia Carnegie Mellon
% In-State 19% 11%
% Out-of-State 64% 69%

Campus

Columbia Carnegie Mellon
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 16,002 students)

Columbia vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Carnegie Mellon?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 4.5% more expensive to attend than Carnegie Mellon for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $59,864.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.5% higher at Columbia than Carnegie Mellon University ($62,570.00 vs. $59,864.00)
  • 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 ($22,058 vs. $33,499)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 1.2% lower than costs at Carnegie Mellon University ($16,286 vs. $16,486)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than Carnegie Mellon University (52% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 38.9% larger than aid received Carnegie Mellon University ($61,061 vs. $43,966)

Columbia vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or Carnegie Mellon? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Carnegie Mellon or Columbia .

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 25 points higher than at Carnegie Mellon (1448)
  • Incoming Columbia students have at the same average ACT score (33) as students at Carnegie Mellon (33)
  • 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 (11.3%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or Carnegie Mellon? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Carnegie Mellon and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Carnegie Mellon University (93% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $4,900 more per year than Carnegie Mellon graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $102,700)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,250)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans 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/