Columbia vs. UVM

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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • UVM Burlington, VT
  • Setting
  • Columbia Large City
  • UVM Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia 35,173
  • UVM 14,476
  • Type
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • UVM Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia #22
  • UVM #205
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia -
  • UVM -
  • Status
  • Columbia Non-profit
  • UVM Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia
  • UVM

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • UVM $19,058
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • UVM $45,502
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia $17,580
  • UVM $13,776
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia $22,520
  • UVM $20,084
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia $67,010
  • UVM $19,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia 52%
  • UVM 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia 60,115
  • UVM 27,138
  • Admitted
  • Columbia 2,400
  • UVM 17,722
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia 4%
  • UVM 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • UVM 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia 1550
  • UVM 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia 34
  • UVM 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia 3.91
  • UVM 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia A
  • UVM A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia Elite
  • UVM Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia Extreme
  • UVM Low
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia 34/35
  • UVM 30/32
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia 1510/1580
  • UVM 1290/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia Test optional
  • UVM Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • UVM Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia 6:1
  • UVM 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • UVM
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia 93%
  • UVM 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia $107,600
  • UVM $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia 76%
  • UVM 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia $21,500
  • UVM $22,300
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia $222
  • UVM $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia 45%
  • UVM 37%
  • % Women
  • Columbia 55%
  • UVM 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia Very High
  • UVM Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia No
  • UVM No
  • % White
  • Columbia 38%
  • UVM 82%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia 18%
  • UVM 3%
  • % Black
  • Columbia 8%
  • UVM 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia 13%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia 5%
  • UVM 3%
  • % International
  • Columbia 15%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia 3%
  • UVM 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia 16%
  • UVM 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia 63%
  • UVM 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with University of Vermont in Burlington, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than UVM based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 14,476 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 of Vermont is in Burlington, VT (Small City setting).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Vermont is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; University of Vermont 17:1.

Columbia vs. UVM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or UVM? 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 of Vermont than Columbia ($20,084 vs. $22,520).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Vermont are 21.6% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($13,776 vs. $17,580).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 277% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVM (about $52,787 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $19,058.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.9% higher at Columbia than at University of Vermont (about $26,343 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $45,502.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Vermont than at Columbia University in the City of New York (93% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 236.8% larger than aid received by University of Vermont students ($67,010 vs. $19,897).

Columbia vs. UVM Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 180 points higher than at UVM (1370).
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UVM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; University of Vermont 1290/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; University of Vermont 30/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; UVM - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; UVM Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at UVM (3.75).
  • UVM has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than Columbia (4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 15.8% at UVM.

Columbia vs. UVM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia and UVM? 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 of Vermont's (72%).
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $54,100 more per year than UVM graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have a $800 lower median loan debt than UVM graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,300).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UVM graduates ($222 vs. $230).
  • More UVM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)

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.