Amherst vs. Columbia

Amherst College and Columbia University in the City of New York side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
Columbia University in the City of New York

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Columbia (4% admitted vs 9%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1540.
  • Cheaper after aid: Amherst. Average net price is $19,049 vs $22,520 at Columbia.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs Columbia 93%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs Columbia $107,600 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College Columbia University in the City of New York
Acceptance rate
Columbia more selective
Amherst9%
Columbia4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Columbia higher
Amherst1490-1580
Columbia1510-1580
Average net price
Amherst $3,471 less
Amherst$19,049
Columbia$22,520
In-state tuition
Amherst $1,365 less
Amherst$70,480
Columbia$71,845
Out-of-state tuition
Amherst $1,365 less
Amherst$70,480
Columbia$71,845
Graduation rate
Amherst +3 pts
Amherst96%
Columbia93%
Median earnings (10 years)
Columbia +$25,600
Amherst$82,000
Columbia$107,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Columbia 60,115
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Columbia 2,400
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Columbia 4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Columbia 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Columbia 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Columbia 3.91
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • Columbia A
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Columbia Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Columbia Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • Columbia 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • Columbia 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Columbia Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Columbia $17,580
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Columbia $22,520
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Columbia $67,010
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Columbia 52%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Columbia 93%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Columbia $107,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Columbia 76%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Columbia $21,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Columbia $222
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Columbia 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Columbia Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Columbia 35,173
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Columbia #22

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 4.4% lower than at Amherst College ($17,580 vs. $18,390).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Columbia than at Amherst College (about $1,365 more per year; $71,845 vs. $70,480).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Columbia University in the City of New York (59% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students ($68,591 vs. $67,010).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 34) as students at Columbia (34).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and Columbia.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Amherst students have the same average high school GPA (3.91) as students at Columbia (3.91).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $8,525 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($12,975 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($134 vs. $222).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 76%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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