Maryland vs. Columbia

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

Maryland Columbia
Location College Park, MD New York, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 40,792 34,782
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #95 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umd.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Maryland Columbia
Tuition (In State) $9,695 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $37,931 $62,570
Room & Board $14,576 $16,286
Avg Net Price $16,210 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $11,232 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 52%

Admission

Maryland Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 56,761 60,879
Admitted 25,320 2,404
Acceptance Rate 44.6% 3.9%
Enrolled % 23.1% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.91
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 30/34 34/35
SAT Range 1360/1520 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

Academics

Maryland Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Maryland Columbia
Graduation Rate 82% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,300 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $222

Diversity

Maryland Columbia
% Men 51% 46%
% Women 49% 54%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 52% 38%
% Black 13% 8%
% Hispanic 9% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 4% 15%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Maryland Columbia
% In-State 72% 19%
% Out-of-State 26% 64%

Campus

Maryland 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

  • University of Maryland College Park is larger than than Columbia based on total student enrollment (40,792 students vs. 34,782 students)

Maryland vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 545.4% more expensive to attend than Maryland for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $9,695.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 65% higher at Columbia than University of Maryland College Park ($62,570.00 vs. $37,931.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland College Park than Columbia ($16,210 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 11.7% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($14,576 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than University of Maryland College Park (52% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 443.6% larger than aid received University of Maryland College Park ($61,061 vs. $11,232)

Maryland vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 158 points higher than at Maryland (1315)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Maryland (3.84)
  • Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.6%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Maryland vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Maryland 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 Maryland.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than University of Maryland College Park (93% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $39,300 more per year than Maryland graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $68,300)
  • University of Maryland College Park students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($19,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Maryland graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($201 vs. $222)
  • More Maryland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)

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