Columbia vs. Hunter

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

 Columbia Hunter
Location New York, NY New York, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 34,782 22,970
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #302
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu cuny.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia Hunter
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $6,930
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $14,880
Room & Board $16,286 $10,808
Avg Net Price $22,058 $4,848
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $9,325
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 100%

Admission

 Columbia Hunter
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 33,944
Admitted 2,404 16,246
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 47.9%
Enrolled % 64.1% 19.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 25/31
SAT Range 1490/1580 1170/1340
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

Academics

 Columbia Hunter
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

 Columbia Hunter
Graduation Rate 93% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $48,800
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $11,548
Median Loan Payment $222 $119

Diversity

 Columbia Hunter
% Men 46% 32%
% Women 54% 68%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 27%
% Black 8% 10%
% Hispanic 13% 29%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 15% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

 Columbia Hunter
% In-State 19% 90%
% Out-of-State 64% 0%

Campus

 Columbia Hunter
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 Hunter based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 22,970 students)

Columbia vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Hunter?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 802.9% more expensive to attend than Hunter for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $6,930.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 320.5% higher at Columbia than CUNY Hunter College ($62,570.00 vs. $14,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Hunter College than Columbia ($4,848 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 50.7% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($10,808 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at CUNY Hunter 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 554.8% larger than aid received CUNY Hunter College ($61,061 vs. $9,325)

Columbia vs. Hunter Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 308 points higher than at Hunter (1165)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Hunter (3.7)
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (47.9%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or Hunter? 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 Hunter and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than CUNY Hunter College (93% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $58,800 more per year than Hunter graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $48,800)
  • CUNY Hunter College students graduate with a $9,952 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($11,548 vs. $21,500)
  • Hunter graduates are paying $103 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($119 vs. $222)
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 56%)

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