Emory vs. Columbia

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

Emory Columbia
Location Atlanta, GA New York, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 15,046 35,279
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #24 #22
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emory.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Emory Columbia
Tuition (In State) $59,920 $65,340
Tuition (Out of State) $59,920 $65,340
Room & Board $18,972 $16,800
Avg Net Price $27,986 $20,869
Avg Grant Aid $50,828 $65,173
% Receiving Grant Aid 46% 52%

Admission

Emory Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 31,929 57,613
Admitted 3,543 2,439
Acceptance Rate 11.1% 4.2%
Enrolled % 40.2% 63.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.91
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 32/34 34/35
SAT Range 1460/1550 1490/1570
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, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Emory Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Emory Columbia
Graduation Rate 90% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $81,500 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,233 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $178 $222

Diversity

Emory Columbia
% Men 18% 33%
% Women 33% 42%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 41% 38%
% Black 9% 8%
% Hispanic 8% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 17% 15%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Emory Columbia
% In-State 12% 19%
% Out-of-State 67% 64%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Emory based on total student enrollment (35,279 students vs. 15,046 students)

Emory vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emory or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 9% more expensive to attend than Emory for in-state tuition ($65,340.00 vs. $59,920.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9% higher at Columbia than Emory University ($65,340.00 vs. $59,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Emory ($20,869 vs. $27,986)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 12.9% lower than costs at Emory University ($16,800 vs. $18,972)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than Emory University (52% vs. 46%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 28.2% larger than aid received Emory University ($65,173 vs. $50,828)

Emory vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 93 points higher than at Emory (1380)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Emory (31)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Emory (3.8)
  • Emory has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Columbia (4.2%)

Emory vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Emory University (93% vs. 90%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $26,100 more per year than Emory graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $81,500)
  • Emory University students graduate with a $4,267 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($17,233 vs. $21,500)
  • Emory graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($178 vs. $222)
  • More Emory graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)

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