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RIT Harvard Yale Barnard Stevens Princeton Cornell Binghamton University UChicago NYU Northeastern U of R| Columbia University in the City of New York | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia | RPI | ||
| Location | New York, NY | Troy, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 34,782 | 6,968 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #22 | #110 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbia.edu | rpi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia | RPI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,570 | $58,600 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,570 | $58,600 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,286 | $16,980 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,058 | $39,127 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $61,061 | $38,636 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 90% |
Admission |
Columbia | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 60,879 | 16,863 | ||
| Admitted | 2,404 | 10,878 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 3.9% | 64.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 64.1% | 18.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.91 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 34/35 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1580 | 1360/1520 | ||
| 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 | RPI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia | RPI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 93% | 84% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $107,600 | $82,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 92% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $27,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $284 |
Diversity |
Columbia | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 69% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 31% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 38% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 7% | ||
| % International | 15% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Columbia | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 19% | 36% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 58% | ||
Campus |
Columbia | RPI | ||
| 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 RPI based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 6,968 students)
Columbia vs. RPI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia or RPI?
- Columbia University in the City of New York is 6.8% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $58,600.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.8% higher at Columbia than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($62,570.00 vs. $58,600.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than RPI ($22,058 vs. $39,127)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 4.3% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,286 vs. $16,980)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Columbia University in the City of New York (90% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 58% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($61,061 vs. $38,636)
Columbia vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or Columbia .
- The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 105 points higher than at RPI (1368)
- Incoming Columbia students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RPI (30)
- Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RPI (3.88)
- RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Columbia (3.9%)
Columbia vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia or RPI? 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 RPI and Columbia.
- The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (93% vs. 84%)
- Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $25,100 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $82,500)
- Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,500)
- Columbia graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($222 vs. $284)
- More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/