New York University vs Columbia University in the City of New York

New York University and Columbia University in the City of New York are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Columbia University in the City of New York is more selective with a 4.2% acceptance rate compared to New York University's 9.4%. Average SAT scores are 1527 and 1547 respectively.

Cost: Columbia University in the City of New York offers a lower average net price at $20,148, which is $14,887 less than New York University ($35,035). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median salary of $102,491 ten years after enrollment, which is $19,982 more than New York University graduates ($82,509).

Graduation: Columbia University in the City of New York leads with a 95.1% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 95.5% vs 97.2%.

Campus Size: New York University is the larger campus with 29,430 total students, while Columbia University in the City of New York has 8,899.

Bottom Line: Columbia University in the City of New York stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.