Connecticut College vs. Columbia

Deciding between Connecticut College and Columbia University in the City of New York? 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.

Connecticut College
Columbia University in the City of New York

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Connecticut College New London, CT
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Connecticut College Small City
  • Columbia Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Connecticut College 1,990
  • Columbia 35,173
  • Type
  • Connecticut College Private 4 Year
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Connecticut College #93
  • Columbia #22
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Connecticut College -
  • Columbia -
  • Status
  • Connecticut College Non-profit
  • Columbia Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Connecticut College
  • Columbia
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Connecticut College $67,242
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Connecticut College $67,242
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Room & Board
  • Connecticut College $18,558
  • Columbia $17,580
  • Average Net Price
  • Connecticut College $45,700
  • Columbia $22,520
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Connecticut College $38,932
  • Columbia $67,010
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Connecticut College 100%
  • Columbia 52%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Connecticut College 7,950
  • Columbia 60,115
  • Admitted
  • Connecticut College 2,945
  • Columbia 2,400
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Connecticut College 37%
  • Columbia 4%
  • Enrolled
  • Connecticut College 15.3%
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Connecticut College 1430
  • Columbia 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Connecticut College 31
  • Columbia 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Connecticut College 3.7
  • Columbia 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Connecticut College A-
  • Columbia A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Connecticut College Exceptional
  • Columbia Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Connecticut College High
  • Columbia Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Connecticut College 30/33
  • Columbia 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Connecticut College 1350/1500
  • Columbia 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Connecticut College Test optional
  • Columbia Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Connecticut College Jan 1, 2027
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Connecticut College 9:1
  • Columbia 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Connecticut College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Biology (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (6%)
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Connecticut College 84%
  • Columbia 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Connecticut College $60,700
  • Columbia $107,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Connecticut College 90%
  • Columbia 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Connecticut College $23,550
  • Columbia $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Connecticut College $243
  • Columbia $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Connecticut College 39%
  • Columbia 45%
  • % Women
  • Connecticut College 61%
  • Columbia 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Connecticut College Medium
  • Columbia Very High
  • HBCU
  • Connecticut College No
  • Columbia No
  • % White
  • Connecticut College 71%
  • Columbia 38%
  • % Asian
  • Connecticut College 4%
  • Columbia 18%
  • % Black
  • Connecticut College 4%
  • Columbia 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Connecticut College 9%
  • Columbia 13%
  • % Native American
  • Connecticut College 0%
  • Columbia 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Connecticut College 0%
  • Columbia 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Connecticut College 3%
  • Columbia 5%
  • % International
  • Connecticut College 6%
  • Columbia 15%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Connecticut College 3%
  • Columbia 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Connecticut College 13%
  • Columbia 16%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Connecticut College 82%
  • Columbia 63%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Connecticut College in New London, CT with Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, 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 Connecticut College based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 1,990 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Connecticut College is located in New London, CT (Small City setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Connecticut College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Connecticut College 9:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Connecticut College vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Connecticut College or Columbia? 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 Columbia University in the City of New York than Connecticut College ($22,520 vs. $45,700).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 5.3% lower than at Connecticut College ($17,580 vs. $18,558).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 6.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Connecticut College (about $4,603 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $67,242.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Columbia than at Connecticut College (about $4,603 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $67,242.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Connecticut College than at 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 72.1% larger than aid received by Connecticut College students ($67,010 vs. $38,932).

Connecticut College vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 120 points higher than at Connecticut College (1430).
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Connecticut College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Connecticut College 1350/1500; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Connecticut College 30/33; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Connecticut College - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Connecticut College Jan 1, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Connecticut College (3.7).
  • Connecticut College has a higher acceptance rate (37%) than Columbia (4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Connecticut College vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Connecticut College vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Connecticut College and Columbia? 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 Connecticut College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $46,900 more per year than Connecticut College graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $60,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have a $2,050 lower median loan debt than Connecticut College graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,550).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Connecticut College graduates ($222 vs. $243).
  • More Connecticut College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.