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UVA University of Richmond Harvard Yale Barnard Princeton Washington and Lee Cornell JMU Virginia Tech UChicago NYU| Columbia University in the City of New York | College of William and Mary | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia | William & Mary | ||
| Location | New York, NY | Williamsburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 35,279 | 9,762 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #22 | #69 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbia.edu | wm.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia | William & Mary | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,340 | $18,252 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,340 | $42,053 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,800 | $14,555 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,869 | $20,422 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $65,173 | $20,908 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 40% |
Admission |
Columbia | William & Mary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 57,613 | 17,548 | ||
| Admitted | 2,439 | 5,741 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 4.2% | 32.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 63.1% | 28.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.91 | 3.85 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | High | ||
| ACT Range | 34/35 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1570 | 1365/1510 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 2, 2026 |
Academics |
Columbia | William & Mary | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia | William & Mary | ||
| Graduation Rate | 93% | 91% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $107,600 | $68,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $201 |
Diversity |
Columbia | William & Mary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 42% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 38% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 15% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 6% |
Students |
Columbia | William & Mary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 19% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Columbia | William & Mary | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (35,279 students vs. 9,762 students)
Columbia vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia or William & Mary?
- Columbia University in the City of New York is 258% more expensive to attend than William & Mary for in-state tuition ($65,340.00 vs. $18,252.00)
- Out of state tuition is 55.4% higher at Columbia than College of William and Mary ($65,340.00 vs. $42,053.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of William and Mary than Columbia ($20,422 vs. $20,869)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of William and Mary are 15.4% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($14,555 vs. $16,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than College of William and Mary (52% vs. 40%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 211.7% larger than aid received College of William and Mary ($65,173 vs. $20,908)
Columbia vs. William & Mary Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or William & Mary? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between William & Mary or Columbia .
- The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 120 points higher than at William & Mary (1353)
- Incoming Columbia students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at William & Mary (30)
- 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 (32.7%) than Columbia (4.2%)
Columbia vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Columbia.
- The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than College of William and Mary (93% vs. 91%)
- Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $38,900 more per year than William & Mary graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $68,700)
- College of William and Mary students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($19,500 vs. $21,500)
- William & Mary graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans 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/