Harvard vs. Columbia

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

Harvard Columbia
Location Cambridge, MA New York, NY
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 30,631 34,782
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harvard Columbia
Tuition (In State) $52,659 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $52,659 $62,570
Room & Board $19,502 $16,286
Avg Net Price $19,491 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $61,801 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 52%

Admission

Harvard Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 61,221 60,879
Admitted 1,984 2,404
Acceptance Rate 3.2% 3.9%
Enrolled % 83% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.91
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 34/36 34/35
SAT Range 1490/1580 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 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

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

Students

Harvard Columbia
% In-State 15% 19%
% Out-of-State 69% 64%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Harvard based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 30,631 students)

Harvard vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 18.8% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.8% higher at Columbia than Harvard University ($62,570.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Columbia ($19,491 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 19.7% lower than costs at Harvard University ($16,286 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harvard University than Columbia University in the City of New York (56% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 1.2% larger than aid received Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,801 vs. $61,061)

Harvard vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Harvard University (1497) is 24 points higher than at Columbia (1473)
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Columbia (33)
  • 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 (3.9%) than Harvard (3.2%)

Harvard vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Columbia University in the City of New York (97% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $29,100 more per year than Columbia graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $107,600)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $15,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($6,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $155 less per month on federal student loans 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/