Columbia vs. Queens College

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

Columbia Queens College
Location New York, NY Flushing, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 34,782 17,001
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #409
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu cuny.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Queens College
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $6,930
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $14,880
Room & Board $16,286 $15,546
Avg Net Price $22,058 $6,434
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $7,927
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 100%

Admission

Columbia Queens College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 22,324
Admitted 2,404 15,510
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 69.5%
Enrolled % 64.1% 15%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.0
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Elite Moderate
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 22/27
SAT Range 1490/1580 1040/1190
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 Queens College
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 (27%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Education (5%)

Outcomes

Columbia Queens College
Graduation Rate 93% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $50,800
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $11,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $113

Diversity

Columbia Queens College
% Men 46% 44%
% Women 54% 56%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 29%
% Black 8% 9%
% Hispanic 13% 29%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 15% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Columbia Queens College
% In-State 19% 81%
% Out-of-State 64% 0%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Queens College based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 17,001 students)

Columbia vs. Queens College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Queens College?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 802.9% more expensive to attend than Queens College for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $6,930.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 320.5% higher at Columbia than CUNY Queens College ($62,570.00 vs. $14,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Queens College than Columbia ($6,434 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Queens College are 4.8% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,546 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at CUNY Queens 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 670.3% larger than aid received CUNY Queens College ($61,061 vs. $7,927)

Columbia vs. Queens College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 363 points higher than at Queens College (1110)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.91 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Queens College (3.0)
  • Queens College has a higher acceptance rate (69.5%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Queens College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or Queens College? 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 Queens College and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than CUNY Queens College (93% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $56,800 more per year than Queens College graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $50,800)
  • CUNY Queens College students graduate with a $10,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($11,000 vs. $21,500)
  • Queens College graduates are paying $109 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($113 vs. $222)
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Queens College 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/