Columbia vs. F&M

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

Columbia F&M
Location New York, NY Lancaster, PA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 34,782 1,990
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #56
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu fandm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia F&M
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $65,652
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $65,652
Room & Board $16,286 $15,040
Avg Net Price $22,058 $31,135
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $49,177
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 63%

Admission

Columbia F&M
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 8,923
Admitted 2,404 3,233
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 36.2%
Enrolled % 64.1% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 34/35 30/33
SAT Range 1490/1580 1310/1440
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 F&M
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Columbia F&M
Graduation Rate 93% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $227

Diversity

Columbia F&M
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 59%
% Black 8% 6%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 15% 14%
% Unknown Race 3% 6%

Students

Columbia F&M
% In-State 19% 25%
% Out-of-State 64% 53%

Campus

Columbia F&M
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
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 F&M based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 1,990 students)

Columbia vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or F&M?

  • Franklin and Marshall College is 4.9% more expensive to attend than Columbia for in-state tuition ($65,652.00 vs. $62,570.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.9% higher at F&M than Columbia University in the City of New York ($65,652.00 vs. $62,570.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than F&M ($22,058 vs. $31,135)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 8.3% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,040 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than Columbia University in the City of New York (63% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 24.2% larger than aid received Franklin and Marshall College ($61,061 vs. $49,177)

Columbia vs. F&M Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (36.2%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or F&M? 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 F&M and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Franklin and Marshall College (93% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $45,700 more per year than F&M graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $61,900)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than F&M graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than F&M graduates. ($222 vs. $227)
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 76%)

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