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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass Harvard Yale Barnard UB NC State Princeton| Columbia University in the City of New York | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia | Penn State | ||
| Location | New York, NY | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 35,279 | 50,399 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #22 | #171 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbia.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,340 | $19,672 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,340 | $39,626 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,800 | $13,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,869 | $27,450 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $65,173 | $11,577 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 36% |
Admission |
Columbia | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 57,613 | 85,956 | ||
| Admitted | 2,439 | 46,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 4.2% | 54.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 63.1% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.91 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 34/35 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1570 | 1220/1400 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Columbia | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 93% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $107,600 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $277 |
Diversity |
Columbia | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 42% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 38% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 15% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Columbia | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 19% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Columbia | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Columbia based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 35,279 students)
Columbia vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Penn State?
- Columbia University in the City of New York is 232.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($65,340.00 vs. $19,672.00)
- Out of state tuition is 64.9% higher at Columbia than Penn State Main Campus ($65,340.00 vs. $39,626.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Penn State ($20,869 vs. $27,450)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 28.9% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($13,030 vs. $16,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than Penn State Main Campus (52% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 463% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($65,173 vs. $11,577)
Columbia vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Columbia .
- The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 271 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming Columbia students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (54.2%) than Columbia (4.2%)
Columbia vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Columbia.
- The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Penn State Main Campus (93% vs. 87%)
- Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $52,300 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $55,300)
- Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $5,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,818)
- Columbia graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($222 vs. $277)
- More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/