Columbia vs. Ursinus College

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

Columbia Ursinus College
Location New York, NY Collegeville, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 34,782 1,527
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #214
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu ursinus.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Ursinus College
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $58,016
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $58,016
Room & Board $16,286 $14,624
Avg Net Price $22,058 $33,546
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $40,075
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 100%

Admission

Columbia Ursinus College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 3,237
Admitted 2,404 2,661
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 82.2%
Enrolled % 64.1% 14.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 34/35 28/32
SAT Range 1490/1580 1180/1380
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia Ursinus College
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

Columbia Ursinus College
Graduation Rate 93% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $58,000
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Columbia Ursinus College
% Men 46% 52%
% Women 54% 48%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 38% 74%
% Black 8% 6%
% Hispanic 13% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 15% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Columbia Ursinus College
% In-State 19% 63%
% Out-of-State 64% 36%

Campus

Columbia Ursinus College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
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 Ursinus College based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 1,527 students)

Columbia vs. Ursinus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Ursinus College?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 7.8% more expensive to attend than Ursinus College for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $58,016.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.8% higher at Columbia than Ursinus College ($62,570.00 vs. $58,016.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Ursinus College ($22,058 vs. $33,546)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ursinus College are 11.4% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($14,624 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ursinus College than Columbia University in the City of New York (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 52.4% larger than aid received Ursinus College ($61,061 vs. $40,075)

Columbia vs. Ursinus College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Ursinus College (3.53)
  • Ursinus College has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Ursinus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or Ursinus College? 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 Ursinus College and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Ursinus College (93% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $49,600 more per year than Ursinus College graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $58,000)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Ursinus College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Ursinus College graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Ursinus College 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/