Columbia vs. Fordham

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

Columbia Fordham
Location New York, NY Bronx, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 34,782 16,556
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #118
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu fordham.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Fordham
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $56,920
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $56,920
Room & Board $16,286 $21,060
Avg Net Price $22,058 $43,943
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $33,129
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 96%

Admission

Columbia Fordham
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 47,203
Admitted 2,404 25,550
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 54.1%
Enrolled % 64.1% 10.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 30/33
SAT Range 1490/1580 1320/1480
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 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia Fordham
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Columbia Fordham
Graduation Rate 93% 78%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $64,200
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $268

Diversity

Columbia Fordham
% Men 46% 38%
% Women 54% 62%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 59%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 13% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 15% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Columbia Fordham
% In-State 19% 35%
% Out-of-State 64% 56%

Campus

Columbia Fordham
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 Fordham based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 16,556 students)

Columbia vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Fordham?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 9.9% more expensive to attend than Fordham for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $56,920.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at Columbia than Fordham University ($62,570.00 vs. $56,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Fordham ($22,058 vs. $43,943)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 29.3% lower than costs at Fordham University ($16,286 vs. $21,060)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fordham University than Columbia University in the City of New York (96% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 84.3% larger than aid received Fordham University ($61,061 vs. $33,129)

Columbia vs. Fordham Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 200 points higher than at Fordham (1273)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Fordham (29)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Fordham (3.67)
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (54.1%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Fordham University (93% vs. 78%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $43,400 more per year than Fordham graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $64,200)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fordham graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Fordham graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More Fordham 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/