Harvard vs. Columbia

Deciding between Harvard University 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.

Harvard University
Columbia University in the City of New York

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Columbia Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Columbia 35,173
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Columbia #22
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Columbia -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Columbia Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Columbia

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Columbia $17,580
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Columbia $22,520
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Columbia $67,010
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Columbia 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Columbia 60,115
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Columbia 2,400
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Columbia 4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Columbia 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Columbia 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Columbia 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Columbia A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Columbia Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Columbia Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Columbia 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Columbia 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Columbia Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Columbia 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Columbia 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Columbia $107,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Columbia 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Columbia $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Columbia $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Columbia 45%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Columbia 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Columbia Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Columbia No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Columbia 38%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Columbia 18%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Columbia 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Columbia 13%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Columbia 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Columbia 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Columbia 5%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Columbia 15%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Columbia 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Columbia 16%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Columbia 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA 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 Harvard based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 30,259 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University 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: Harvard University 7:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Harvard vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Columbia ($17,525 vs. $22,520).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 17% lower than at Harvard University ($17,580 vs. $21,190).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 16.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $10,169 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.5% higher at Columbia than at Harvard University (about $10,169 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Columbia University in the City of New York (56% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 1.5% larger than aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students ($68,015 vs. $67,010).

Harvard vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is the same as at Columbia (1550).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Columbia).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Columbia - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Columbia (3.91).
  • Columbia has a higher acceptance rate (4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Harvard vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Columbia University in the City of New York's (93%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $29,100 more per year than Columbia graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $107,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($6,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($67 vs. $222).
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 70%)

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.