Wheaton College vs. Columbia

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

Wheaton College Columbia
Location Norton, MA New York, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 1,667 34,782
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wheatoncollege.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wheaton College Columbia
Tuition (In State) $59,750 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $59,750 $62,570
Room & Board $14,800 $16,286
Avg Net Price $32,863 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $41,665 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 52%

Admission

Wheaton College Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,031 60,879
Admitted 3,204 2,404
Acceptance Rate 79.5% 3.9%
Enrolled % 15.4% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.91
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 27/33 34/35
SAT Range 1260/1390 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 Feb 15, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Wheaton College Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Psychology (19%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Ethnic Studies (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Wheaton College Columbia
Graduation Rate 77% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $222

Diversity

Wheaton College Columbia
% Men 37% 46%
% Women 63% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 38%
% Black 6% 8%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 10% 15%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Wheaton College Columbia
% In-State 38% 19%
% Out-of-State 57% 64%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 1,667 students)

Wheaton College vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 4.7% more expensive to attend than Wheaton College for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $59,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Columbia than Wheaton College ($62,570.00 vs. $59,750.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Wheaton College ($22,058 vs. $32,863)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 10% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($14,800 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Columbia University in the City of New York (98% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 46.6% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($61,061 vs. $41,665)

Wheaton College vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Wheaton College (3.48)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (79.5%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Wheaton College vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wheaton College 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 Wheaton College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Wheaton College (93% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $53,900 more per year than Wheaton College graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $53,700)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Wheaton College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Wheaton College graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 76%)

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