Columbia vs. Villanova

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

Columbia Villanova
Location New York, NY Villanova, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 34,782 10,383
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #66
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu villanova.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Villanova
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $60,768
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $60,768
Room & Board $16,286 $16,087
Avg Net Price $22,058 $34,837
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $42,834
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 52%

Admission

Columbia Villanova
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 23,835
Admitted 2,404 5,576
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 23.4%
Enrolled % 64.1% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 34/35 32/34
SAT Range 1490/1580 1378/1500
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Columbia Villanova
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia Villanova
Graduation Rate 93% 90%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $85,100
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $26,497
Median Loan Payment $222 $273

Diversity

Columbia Villanova
% Men 46% 46%
% Women 54% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 38% 74%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 15% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Columbia Villanova
% In-State 19% 18%
% Out-of-State 64% 78%

Campus

Columbia Villanova
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Villanova based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 10,383 students)

Columbia vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Villanova?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 3% more expensive to attend than Villanova for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $60,768.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3% higher at Columbia than Villanova University ($62,570.00 vs. $60,768.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Villanova ($22,058 vs. $34,837)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 1.2% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($16,087 vs. $16,286)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York as Villanova University (52% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 42.6% larger than aid received Villanova University ($61,061 vs. $42,834)

Columbia vs. Villanova Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 147 points higher than at Villanova (1326)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Villanova (31)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Villanova (3.87)
  • Villanova has a higher acceptance rate (23.4%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or Villanova? 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 Villanova and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Villanova University (93% vs. 90%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $22,500 more per year than Villanova graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $85,100)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $4,997 lower median federal student loan debt than Villanova graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,497)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Villanova graduates. ($222 vs. $273)
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 76%)

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