Columbia vs. West Point

Should I go to Columbia University in the City of New York or United States Military Academy? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia or West Point 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. United States Military Academy comparison
Columbia University in the City of New York United States Military Academy College 3 College 4
Columbia University in the City of New York United States Military Academy
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Overview

 Columbia West Point
Location New York, NY West Point, New York
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 34,782 4,393
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu westpoint.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia West Point
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $0
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $0
Room & Board $16,286 $0
Avg Net Price $22,058 -
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 0%

Admission

 Columbia West Point
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 12,559
Admitted 2,404 1,501
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 12%
Enrolled % 64.1% 78.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 4.0
Typical High School Grades A- A/A+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 34/35 27/33
SAT Range 1490/1580 1220/1450
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 31, 2025

Academics

 Columbia West Point
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Engineering (21%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

 Columbia West Point
Graduation Rate 93% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 76% -
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 N/A
Median Loan Payment $222 N/A

Diversity

 Columbia West Point
% Men 46% 77%
% Women 54% 23%
Racial Diversity Very High -
HBCU No No
% White 38% 0%
% Black 8% 0%
% Hispanic 13% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 0%
% International 15% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

 Columbia West Point
% In-State 19% 7%
% Out-of-State 64% 92%

Campus

 Columbia West Point
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 West Point based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 4,393 students)

Columbia vs. West Point Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or West Point?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is ?% more expensive to attend than West Point for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $0.00)
  • Out of state tuition is ?% higher at Columbia than United States Military Academy ($62,570.00 vs. $0.00)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than United States Military Academy (52% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is ?% larger than aid received United States Military Academy ($61,061 vs. $0)

Columbia vs. West Point Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman West Point students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Columbia (3.91)
  • West Point has a higher acceptance rate (12%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. West Point Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or West Point? 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 West Point and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than United States Military Academy (93% vs. 80%)

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