NJIT vs. Columbia

Should I go to New Jersey 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 NJIT 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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New Jersey Institute of Technology vs. Columbia University in the City of New York comparison
New Jersey Institute of Technology Columbia University in the City of New York College 3 College 4
New Jersey Institute of Technology Columbia University in the City of New York
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Overview

 NJIT Columbia
Location Newark, NJ New York, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 13,007 35,279
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #214 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website njit.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NJIT Columbia
Tuition (In State) $15,616 $65,340
Tuition (Out of State) $32,528 $65,340
Room & Board $15,000 $16,800
Avg Net Price $16,736 $20,869
Avg Grant Aid $17,447 $65,173
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 52%

Admission

 NJIT Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,993 57,613
Admitted 9,362 2,439
Acceptance Rate 66.9% 4.2%
Enrolled % 18.8% 63.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.91
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 25/32 34/35
SAT Range 1210/1470 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 Mar 1, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

 NJIT Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (38%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Architecture (13%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

 NJIT Columbia
Graduation Rate 54% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $67,200 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $237 $222

Diversity

 NJIT Columbia
% Men 18% 33%
% Women 8% 42%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 33% 38%
% Black 9% 8%
% Hispanic 22% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 4% 15%
% Unknown Race 6% 3%

Students

 NJIT Columbia
% In-State 90% 19%
% Out-of-State 7% 64%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than NJIT based on total student enrollment (35,279 students vs. 13,007 students)

NJIT vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NJIT or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 318.4% more expensive to attend than NJIT for in-state tuition ($65,340.00 vs. $15,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 100.9% higher at Columbia than New Jersey Institute of Technology ($65,340.00 vs. $32,528.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Jersey Institute of Technology than Columbia ($16,736 vs. $20,869)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Jersey Institute of Technology are 12% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,000 vs. $16,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Jersey Institute of Technology than Columbia University in the City of New York (90% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 273.5% larger than aid received New Jersey Institute of Technology ($65,173 vs. $17,447)

NJIT vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 268 points higher than at NJIT (1205)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at NJIT (26)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at NJIT (3.72)
  • NJIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Columbia (4.2%)

NJIT vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NJIT 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 NJIT.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than New Jersey Institute of Technology (93% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $40,400 more per year than NJIT graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $67,200)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than NJIT graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than NJIT graduates. ($222 vs. $237)
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NJIT students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 69%)

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