Columbia vs. RIT

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

Columbia RIT
Location New York, NY Rochester, NY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 34,782 16,615
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #172
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu rit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia RIT
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $53,720
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $53,720
Room & Board $16,286 $14,978
Avg Net Price $22,058 $39,600
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $29,122
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 97%

Admission

Columbia RIT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 23,976
Admitted 2,404 16,105
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 67.2%
Enrolled % 64.1% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 29/33
SAT Range 1490/1580 1270/1450
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 RIT
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Engineering Technology (11%)

Outcomes

Columbia RIT
Graduation Rate 93% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $64,900
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $289

Diversity

Columbia RIT
% Men 46% 65%
% Women 54% 35%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 38% 66%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 13% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 15% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

Columbia RIT
% In-State 19% 47%
% Out-of-State 64% 49%

Campus

Columbia RIT
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than RIT based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 16,615 students)

Columbia vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or RIT ?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 16.5% more expensive to attend than RIT for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $53,720.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.5% higher at Columbia than Rochester Institute of Technology ($62,570.00 vs. $53,720.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than RIT ($22,058 vs. $39,600)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 8.7% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($14,978 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than Columbia University in the City of New York (97% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 109.7% larger than aid received Rochester Institute of Technology ($61,061 vs. $29,122)

Columbia vs. RIT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 222 points higher than at RIT (1251)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RIT (29)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RIT (3.7)
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (67.2%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology (93% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $42,700 more per year than RIT graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $64,900)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RIT graduates. ($21,500 vs. $28,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than RIT graduates. ($222 vs. $289)
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 75%)

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