Columbia vs. State University of New York at New Paltz

Deciding between Columbia University in the City of New York and State University of New York at New Paltz? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Columbia University in the City of New York
State University of New York at New Paltz

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY
  • Setting
  • Columbia Large City
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia 35,173
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 7,898
  • Type
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia #22
  • State University of New York at New Paltz #288
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia -
  • State University of New York at New Paltz -
  • Status
  • Columbia Non-profit
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia
  • State University of New York at New Paltz

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $8,572
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,822
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia $17,580
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $16,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia $22,520
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,051
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia $67,010
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $10,087
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia 52%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 71%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Columbia Calculate
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Calculate
  • Applied
  • Columbia 60,115
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17,232
  • Admitted
  • Columbia 2,400
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10,616
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia 4%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 61.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia 1550
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia 34
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia 3.91
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia A
  • State University of New York at New Paltz A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia Elite
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia Extreme
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Low
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia 34/35
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia 1510/1580
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia Test optional
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia 6:1
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia 93%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia $107,600
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $47,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia 76%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia $21,500
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia $222
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia 45%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 36%
  • % Women
  • Columbia 55%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia Very High
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Medium
  • HBCU
  • Columbia No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • % White
  • Columbia 38%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 63%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia 18%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • % Black
  • Columbia 8%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia 13%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia 0%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia 0%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia 5%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • % International
  • Columbia 15%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia 3%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia 16%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia 63%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbia Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbia Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbia Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbia No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbia No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Learn More
  • Columbia Details
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with State University of New York at New Paltz in New Paltz, 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 State University of New York at New Paltz based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 7,898 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); State University of New York at New Paltz is in New Paltz, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at New Paltz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1.

Columbia vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or State University of New York at New Paltz? 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 State University of New York at New Paltz than Columbia ($18,051 vs. $22,520).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at New Paltz are 5.1% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($16,684 vs. $17,580).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 738.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than State University of New York at New Paltz (about $63,273 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $8,572.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 281.7% higher at Columbia than at State University of New York at New Paltz (about $53,023 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $18,822.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at State University of New York at New Paltz than at Columbia University in the City of New York (71% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 564.3% larger than aid received by State University of New York at New Paltz students ($67,010 vs. $10,087).

Columbia vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or State University of New York at New Paltz? 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 State University of New York at New Paltz and Columbia.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 290 points higher than at State University of New York at New Paltz (1260).
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 27 at State University of New York at New Paltz).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; State University of New York at New Paltz - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at State University of New York at New Paltz (3.6).
  • State University of New York at New Paltz has a higher acceptance rate (61.6%) than Columbia (4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 10.7% at State University of New York at New Paltz.

Columbia vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia and State University of New York at New Paltz? 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 State University of New York at New Paltz's (69%).
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $60,200 more per year than State University of New York at New Paltz graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($19,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($196 vs. $222).
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former State University of New York at New Paltz students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 72%)

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.