George Washington vs. Columbia

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

George Washington Columbia
Location Washington, DC New York, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 25,939 34,782
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #73 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gwu.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

George Washington Columbia
Tuition (In State) $62,110 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $62,110 $62,570
Room & Board $15,720 $16,286
Avg Net Price $42,723 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $35,257 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 52%

Admission

George Washington Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,266 60,879
Admitted 13,354 2,404
Acceptance Rate 49% 3.9%
Enrolled % 22% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.91
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 31/34 34/35
SAT Range 1330/1490 1490/1580
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 5, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

George Washington Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (34%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

George Washington Columbia
Graduation Rate 81% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,500 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,962 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

George Washington Columbia
% Men 38% 46%
% Women 62% 54%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 38%
% Black 6% 8%
% Hispanic 8% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 10% 15%
% Unknown Race 5% 3%

Students

George Washington Columbia
% In-State 1% 19%
% Out-of-State 89% 64%

Campus

George Washington Columbia
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
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 George Washington based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 25,939 students)

George Washington vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, George Washington or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 0.7% more expensive to attend than George Washington for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $62,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.7% higher at Columbia than George Washington University ($62,570.00 vs. $62,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than George Washington ($22,058 vs. $42,723)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Washington University are 3.6% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,720 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Washington University than Columbia University in the City of New York (78% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 73.2% larger than aid received George Washington University ($61,061 vs. $35,257)

George Washington vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 179 points higher than at George Washington (1294)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at George Washington (29)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at George Washington (3.81)
  • George Washington has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Columbia (3.9%)

George Washington vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, George Washington 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 George Washington.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than George Washington University (93% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $27,100 more per year than George Washington graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $80,500)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $3,462 lower median federal student loan debt than George Washington graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,962)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than George Washington graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More George Washington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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