Columbia vs. USMMA

Deciding between Columbia University in the City of New York and United States Merchant Marine Academy? 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
United States Merchant Marine Academy

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • USMMA Kings Point, NY
  • Setting
  • Columbia Large City
  • USMMA Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia 35,173
  • USMMA 976
  • Type
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • USMMA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia #22
  • USMMA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia -
  • USMMA -
  • Status
  • Columbia Non-profit
  • USMMA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia
  • USMMA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • USMMA $895
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • USMMA $895
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia $17,580
  • USMMA $0
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia $22,520
  • USMMA $4,101
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia $67,010
  • USMMA $5,067
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia 52%
  • USMMA 10%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia 60,115
  • USMMA 1,367
  • Admitted
  • Columbia 2,400
  • USMMA 468
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia 4%
  • USMMA 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • USMMA 64.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia 1550
  • USMMA 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia 34
  • USMMA 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia 3.91
  • USMMA 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia A
  • USMMA A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia Elite
  • USMMA Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia Extreme
  • USMMA High
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia 34/35
  • USMMA 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia 1510/1580
  • USMMA 1110/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia Test optional
  • USMMA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • USMMA Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia 6:1
  • USMMA 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • USMMA

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia 93%
  • USMMA -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia $107,600
  • USMMA $92,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia 76%
  • USMMA -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia $21,500
  • USMMA $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia $222
  • USMMA $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia 45%
  • USMMA 82%
  • % Women
  • Columbia 55%
  • USMMA 18%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia Very High
  • USMMA Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia No
  • USMMA No
  • % White
  • Columbia 38%
  • USMMA 75%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia 18%
  • USMMA 7%
  • % Black
  • Columbia 8%
  • USMMA 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia 13%
  • USMMA 10%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia 0%
  • USMMA 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia 0%
  • USMMA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia 5%
  • USMMA 0%
  • % International
  • Columbia 15%
  • USMMA 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia 3%
  • USMMA 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia 16%
  • USMMA 7%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia 63%
  • USMMA 93%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbia Yes
  • USMMA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbia Yes
  • USMMA
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbia Yes
  • USMMA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbia No
  • USMMA No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbia No
  • USMMA

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, 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 USMMA based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 976 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); United States Merchant Marine Academy is in Kings Point, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Merchant Marine Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; United States Merchant Marine Academy 13:1.

Columbia vs. USMMA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or USMMA? 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 United States Merchant Marine Academy than Columbia ($4,101 vs. $22,520).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 7,927.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than USMMA (about $70,950 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $895.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7,927.4% higher at Columbia than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (about $70,950 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $895.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (52% vs. 10%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 1,222.5% larger than aid received by United States Merchant Marine Academy students ($67,010 vs. $5,067).

Columbia vs. USMMA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or USMMA? 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 USMMA and Columbia.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 340 points higher than at USMMA (1210).
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 25 at USMMA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; United States Merchant Marine Academy 1110/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; United States Merchant Marine Academy 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; USMMA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; USMMA Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at USMMA (3.6).
  • USMMA has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Columbia (4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 64.1% at USMMA.

Columbia vs. USMMA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia and USMMA? 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).

  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $15,200 more per year than USMMA graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $92,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($6,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, USMMA graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($67 vs. $222).

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.