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 1,778 35,279
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #177 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wheatoncollege.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wheaton College Columbia
Tuition (In State) $61,600 $65,340
Tuition (Out of State) $61,600 $65,340
Room & Board $15,430 $16,800
Avg Net Price $31,638 $20,869
Avg Grant Aid $45,217 $65,173
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 52%

Admission

Wheaton College Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,702 57,613
Admitted 3,354 2,439
Acceptance Rate 71.3% 4.2%
Enrolled % 15.6% 63.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.91
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 29/33 34/35
SAT Range 1210/1420 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 Feb 15, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Wheaton College Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 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 1% 33%
% Women 1% 42%
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 (35,279 students vs. 1,778 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 6.1% more expensive to attend than Wheaton College for in-state tuition ($65,340.00 vs. $61,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.1% higher at Columbia than Wheaton College ($65,340.00 vs. $61,600.00)
  • 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 ($20,869 vs. $31,638)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 8.9% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,430 vs. $16,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Columbia University in the City of New York (96% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 44.1% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($65,173 vs. $45,217)

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 (71.3%) than Columbia (4.2%)

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/