Columbia vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 9,818 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); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Columbia vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Columbia ($19,686 vs. $22,520).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 8% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($16,182 vs. $17,580).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 177.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $45,931 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.8% higher at Columbia than at William & Mary (about $20,807 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than at William & Mary (52% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 189.5% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($67,010 vs. $23,144).

Columbia vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Columbia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 80 points higher than at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming Columbia students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at William & Mary).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at William & Mary (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Columbia vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia and William & Mary? 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 William & Mary's (91%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $38,900 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($201 vs. $222).
• More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.