Columbia vs. Duke

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

Columbia Duke
Location New York, NY Durham, NC
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 34,782 18,023
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #3
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu duke.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Duke
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $60,435
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $60,435
Room & Board $16,286 $16,651
Avg Net Price $22,058 $23,694
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $57,444
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 42%

Admission

Columbia Duke
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 50,016
Admitted 2,404 3,174
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 6.3%
Enrolled % 64.1% 55%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.94
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 34/35 34/35
SAT Range 1490/1580 1490/1570
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 3, 2025

Academics

Columbia Duke
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Human Services (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia Duke
Graduation Rate 93% 94%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $108,900
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $7,500
Median Loan Payment $222 $77

Diversity

Columbia Duke
% Men 46% 45%
% Women 54% 55%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 46%
% Black 8% 10%
% Hispanic 13% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 15% 10%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Columbia Duke
% In-State 19% 12%
% Out-of-State 64% 74%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Duke based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 18,023 students)

Columbia vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Duke?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 3.5% more expensive to attend than Duke for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $60,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.5% higher at Columbia than Duke University ($62,570.00 vs. $60,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Duke ($22,058 vs. $23,694)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 2.2% lower than costs at Duke University ($16,286 vs. $16,651)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than Duke University (52% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 6.3% larger than aid received Duke University ($61,061 vs. $57,444)

Columbia vs. Duke Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 23 points higher than at Duke (1450)
  • Incoming Columbia students have at the same average ACT score (33) as students at Duke (33)
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Columbia (3.91)
  • Duke has a higher acceptance rate (6.3%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Duke is higher than Columbia University in the City of New York (94% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Duke University earn on average $1,300 more per year than Columbia graduates after ten years. ($108,900 vs. $107,600)
  • Duke University students graduate with a $14,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($7,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Duke graduates are paying $145 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($77 vs. $222)
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)

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