Columbia vs Barnard College

Columbia University and Barnard College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning located in the vibrant heart of New York City, offer prospective students a wealth of opportunities to pursue academic excellence. While both share the same campus and many resources, they maintain distinct identities and academic experiences. Columbia, known for its rigorous curriculum and world-renowned faculty, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a larger student body, while Barnard, a women's college, fosters a close-knit community and provides a supportive environment for its students. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the specifics of each institution, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Barnard College logo

Barnard College

Columbia University logo

Columbia University

Overview

Location New York, New York New York, New York
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 97.0% 99.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 11.5% 4.1%
Application fees $75
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $120
SAT range 1425 - 1550 1470 - 1570
ACT range 32 - 34 34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 30.0% 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 21.0% 28.0%
Total number of applicants 10,395 61,110
Total number of admissions given out 1,192 2,524
Admitted students who chose to enroll 769 1,641
Yield rate 64.5% 65.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $80,693 $90,882
Average net price $28,366 $12,411
Tuition $57,734 $60,514
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,206

Meal plan: $7,280
Room/dormitory: $9,450

Meal plan: $6,000
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

36.0%
Average amount $44,482
53.0%
Average amount $57,726
Students receiving federal student loan 32.0%
Average amount $1,946
7.0%
Average amount $5,511
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $13,974
2.0%
Average amount $34,119

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,043
Men 0.3% Women 99.7%
8,832
Men 50.6% Women 49.4%
Graduate students N/A 24,944
Men 44.8% Women 55.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 70.3% N/A
International students 12.6% 37.0%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,411 13,071
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York California New Jersey Mississippi Texas N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.8% 97.4%
Dropout rate 2.7% 1.7%
Transferred out 4.3% 0.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,217
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $87,791
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,807
  • Year 2: $47,846
  • Year 3: $67,484
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,701
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $60,852
Urban Studies/Affairs (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,271
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $55,821
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $49,646
  • Year 3: $53,521
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,937
  • Year 3: $52,302
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,848
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $50,891
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,983
  • Year 2: $39,648
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,340
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,675
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $193,362
  • Year 2: $180,752
  • Year 3: $230,020
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $162,427
  • Year 2: $170,426
  • Year 3: $179,305
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $153,730
  • Year 2: $160,605
  • Year 3: $167,216
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,851
  • Year 2: $143,033
  • Year 3: $166,695
Operations Research (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,312
  • Year 2: $114,503
  • Year 3: $148,040
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,903
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $135,658
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,222
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $131,926
Construction Management (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,322
  • Year 2: $110,878
  • Year 3: $125,926
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,569
  • Year 2: $109,659
  • Year 3: $119,899
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,223
  • Year 2: $100,127
  • Year 3: $118,332

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