Columbia vs. University at Albany- SUNY

Should I go to Columbia University in the City of New York or SUNY at Albany? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia or University at Albany- SUNY 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

UB Harvard Yale Barnard Binghamton University Princeton State University of New York at New Paltz Cornell SUNY College at Oneonta UChicago NYU Stanford
Columbia University in the City of New York vs. SUNY at Albany comparison
Columbia University in the City of New York SUNY at Albany College 3 College 4
Columbia University in the City of New York SUNY at Albany
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Columbia University at Albany- SUNY
Location New York, NY Albany, NY
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 34,782 16,658
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #242
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu albany.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia University at Albany- SUNY
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $24,910
Room & Board $16,286 $15,598
Avg Net Price $22,058 $17,714
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $11,485
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 95%

Admission

Columbia University at Albany- SUNY
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 25,976
Admitted 2,404 17,639
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 67.9%
Enrolled % 64.1% 15%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 22/31
SAT Range 1490/1580 1120/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia University at Albany- SUNY
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Biology (9%)

Outcomes

Columbia University at Albany- SUNY
Graduation Rate 93% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $55,800
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $21,065
Median Loan Payment $222 $217

Diversity

Columbia University at Albany- SUNY
% Men 46% 43%
% Women 54% 57%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 49%
% Black 8% 16%
% Hispanic 13% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 15% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Columbia University at Albany- SUNY
% In-State 19% 92%
% Out-of-State 64% 4%

Campus

Columbia University at Albany- SUNY
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than University at Albany- SUNY based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 16,658 students)

Columbia vs. University at Albany- SUNY Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or University at Albany- SUNY?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 785% more expensive to attend than University at Albany- SUNY for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 151.2% higher at Columbia than SUNY at Albany ($62,570.00 vs. $24,910.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Albany than Columbia ($17,714 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Albany are 4.4% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,598 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Albany than Columbia University in the City of New York (95% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 431.7% larger than aid received SUNY at Albany ($61,061 vs. $11,485)

Columbia vs. University at Albany- SUNY Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 382 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1091)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (24)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (3.3)
  • University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (67.9%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. University at Albany- SUNY Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany- SUNY and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than SUNY at Albany (93% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $51,800 more per year than University at Albany- SUNY graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $55,800)
  • SUNY at Albany students graduate with a $435 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($21,065 vs. $21,500)
  • University at Albany- SUNY graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($217 vs. $222)
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University at Albany- SUNY students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 70%)

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