Columbia vs. Pratt Institute

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with Pratt Institute Main in Brooklyn, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Pratt Institute based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 5,356 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Pratt Institute Main is in Brooklyn, NY (Large City setting).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pratt Institute Main is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; Pratt Institute Main 9:1.

Columbia vs. Pratt Institute Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Pratt Institute? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Pratt Institute ($22,520 vs. $54,150).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pratt Institute Main are 1.4% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($17,336 vs. $17,580).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 16.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pratt Institute (about $10,000 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $61,845.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at Columbia than at Pratt Institute Main (about $10,000 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $61,845.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pratt Institute Main than at Columbia University in the City of New York (78% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 157.5% larger than aid received by Pratt Institute Main students ($67,010 vs. $26,021).

Columbia vs. Pratt Institute Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or Pratt Institute? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pratt Institute and Columbia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 280 points higher than at Pratt Institute (1270).
• Incoming Columbia students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at Pratt Institute).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; Pratt Institute Main 1150/1390.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; Pratt Institute Main 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; Pratt Institute - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; Pratt Institute Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Pratt Institute (3.86).
• Pratt Institute has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 18.3% at Pratt Institute.

Columbia vs. Pratt Institute Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia and Pratt Institute? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Pratt Institute Main's (62%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $58,400 more per year than Pratt Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Pratt Institute graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Columbia graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pratt Institute graduates ($222 vs. $271).
• More Pratt Institute graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.