MIT vs. Columbia

Should I go to Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Columbia University in the City of New York? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MIT 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Harvard Yale Stanford Barnard Princeton Cornell UChicago NYU Caltech Brown Penn RPI
Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs. Columbia University in the City of New York comparison
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Columbia University in the City of New York College 3 College 4
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Columbia University in the City of New York
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

MIT Columbia
Location Cambridge, MA New York, NY
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 11,858 34,782
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #8 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mit.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MIT Columbia
Tuition (In State) $57,590 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $57,590 $62,570
Room & Board $18,790 $16,286
Avg Net Price $20,232 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $45,591 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 52%

Admission

MIT Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,767 60,879
Admitted 1,337 2,404
Acceptance Rate 4% 3.9%
Enrolled % 85% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.91
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 35/36 34/35
SAT Range 1530/1580 1490/1580
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

MIT Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

MIT Columbia
Graduation Rate 93% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $142,100 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,316 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $179 $222

Diversity

MIT Columbia
% Men 57% 46%
% Women 43% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 37% 38%
% Black 6% 8%
% Hispanic 15% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 5%
% International 10% 15%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

MIT Columbia
% In-State 7% 19%
% Out-of-State 81% 64%

Campus

MIT Columbia
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No 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 MIT based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 11,858 students)

MIT vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 8.6% more expensive to attend than MIT for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $57,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.6% higher at Columbia than Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($62,570.00 vs. $57,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Columbia ($20,232 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 15.4% lower than costs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($16,286 vs. $18,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Columbia University in the City of New York (71% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 33.9% larger than aid received Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($61,061 vs. $45,591)

MIT vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1507) is 34 points higher than at Columbia (1473)
  • Incoming MIT students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Columbia (33)
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Columbia (3.91)
  • MIT has a higher acceptance rate (4%) than Columbia (3.9%)

MIT vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The graduation rate at MIT is the same as at Columbia University in the City of New York (93% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn on average $34,500 more per year than Columbia graduates after ten years. ($142,100 vs. $107,600)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology students graduate with a $4,184 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($17,316 vs. $21,500)
  • MIT graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($179 vs. $222)
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 76%)

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