NJIT vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

Compare New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ 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 NJIT based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 13,247 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• New Jersey Institute of Technology is located in Newark, NJ (Large City setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public, 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: New Jersey Institute of Technology 17:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

NJIT vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NJIT 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 New Jersey Institute of Technology than Columbia ($17,313 vs. $22,520).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Jersey Institute of Technology are 6.4% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($16,450 vs. $17,580).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 259.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NJIT (about $51,871 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $19,974.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90.8% higher at Columbia than at New Jersey Institute of Technology (about $34,181 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $37,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at New Jersey Institute of Technology than at Columbia University in the City of New York (91% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 270.5% larger than aid received by New Jersey Institute of Technology students ($67,010 vs. $18,084).

NJIT vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NJIT 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 NJIT.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 210 points higher than at NJIT (1340).
• Incoming Columbia students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at NJIT).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New Jersey Institute of Technology 1210/1460; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New Jersey Institute of Technology 27/34; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NJIT - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: NJIT Mar 1, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• 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 (65.1%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.2% at NJIT vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

NJIT vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NJIT 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).

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than New Jersey Institute of Technology's (54%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $40,400 more per year than NJIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $67,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than NJIT graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, Columbia graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.