Columbia vs. City College of New York

Should I go to Columbia University in the City of New York or CUNY City College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia or City College of New York 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. CUNY City College comparison
Columbia University in the City of New York CUNY City College College 3 College 4
Columbia University in the City of New York CUNY City College
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Overview

Columbia City College of New York
Location New York, NY New York, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 34,782 14,489
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #305
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu cuny.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia City College of New York
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $6,930
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $14,880
Room & Board $16,286 $17,076
Avg Net Price $22,058 $5,181
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $9,822
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 100%

Admission

Columbia City College of New York
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 33,648
Admitted 2,404 22,410
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 66.6%
Enrolled % 64.1% 12.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.2
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 23/31
SAT Range 1490/1580 1050/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia City College of New York
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (15%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia City College of New York
Graduation Rate 93% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $49,800
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $11,400
Median Loan Payment $222 $117

Diversity

Columbia City College of New York
% Men 46% 45%
% Women 54% 55%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 15%
% Black 8% 16%
% Hispanic 13% 35%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 15% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Columbia City College of New York
% In-State 19% 90%
% Out-of-State 64% 0%

Campus

Columbia City College of New York
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes No
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 City College of New York based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 14,489 students)

Columbia vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or City College of New York?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 802.9% more expensive to attend than City College of New York for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $6,930.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 320.5% higher at Columbia than CUNY City College ($62,570.00 vs. $14,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY City College than Columbia ($5,181 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 4.9% lower than costs at CUNY City College ($16,286 vs. $17,076)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at CUNY City College than Columbia University in the City of New York (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 521.7% larger than aid received CUNY City College ($61,061 vs. $9,822)

Columbia vs. City College of New York Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 348 points higher than at City College of New York (1125)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at City College of New York (3.2)
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (66.6%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or City College of New York? 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 City College of New York and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than CUNY City College (93% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $57,800 more per year than City College of New York graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $49,800)
  • CUNY City College students graduate with a $10,100 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($11,400 vs. $21,500)
  • City College of New York graduates are paying $105 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($117 vs. $222)
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/