Columbia vs. UB

Deciding between Columbia University in the City of New York and University at Buffalo? 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
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Columbia Large City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia 35,173
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia #22
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • Columbia Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia $17,580
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia $22,520
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia $67,010
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia 52%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia 60,115
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • Columbia 2,400
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia 4%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia 1550
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia 34
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia 3.91
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia A
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia Elite
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia Extreme
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia 34/35
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia 1510/1580
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia 6:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia 93%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia $107,600
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia 76%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia $21,500
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia $222
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia 45%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • Columbia 55%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia Very High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • Columbia No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • Columbia 38%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia 18%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • Columbia 8%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia 13%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia 5%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • Columbia 15%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia 3%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia 16%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia 63%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, 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 UB based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 31,903 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); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

Columbia vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or UB? 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 University at Buffalo than Columbia ($20,529 vs. $22,520).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 0.9% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($17,426 vs. $17,580).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 557% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $60,909 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 127.8% higher at Columbia than at University at Buffalo (about $40,309 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Columbia University in the City of New York (76% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 528.4% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($67,010 vs. $10,663).

Columbia vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 250 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Columbia (4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 14.1% at UB.

Columbia vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia and UB? 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $49,200 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.