Columbia vs. Drexel

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

Columbia Drexel
Location New York, NY Philadelphia, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 34,782 22,344
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #124
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu drexel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Drexel
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $56,595
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $56,595
Room & Board $16,286 $16,980
Avg Net Price $22,058 $39,267
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $33,861
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 100%

Admission

Columbia Drexel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 37,040
Admitted 2,404 29,487
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 79.6%
Enrolled % 64.1% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 34/35 27/32
SAT Range 1490/1580 1230/1430
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Columbia Drexel
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Engineering (18%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Columbia Drexel
Graduation Rate 93% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $77,400
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $26,243
Median Loan Payment $222 $271

Diversity

Columbia Drexel
% Men 46% 46%
% Women 54% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 54%
% Black 8% 7%
% Hispanic 13% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 15% 13%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Columbia Drexel
% In-State 19% 44%
% Out-of-State 64% 47%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Drexel based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 22,344 students)

Columbia vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Drexel?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 10.6% more expensive to attend than Drexel for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $56,595.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.6% higher at Columbia than Drexel University ($62,570.00 vs. $56,595.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Drexel ($22,058 vs. $39,267)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 4.3% lower than costs at Drexel University ($16,286 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drexel University 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 80.3% larger than aid received Drexel University ($61,061 vs. $33,861)

Columbia vs. Drexel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 259 points higher than at Drexel (1214)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Drexel (28)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Drexel (3.67)
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.6%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Drexel University (93% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $30,200 more per year than Drexel graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $77,400)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $4,743 lower median federal student loan debt than Drexel graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,243)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Drexel graduates. ($222 vs. $271)
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 76%)

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