Bentley vs. Columbia

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

Bentley University
Columbia University in the City of New York

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Columbia (4% admitted vs 45.1%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1360.
  • Cheaper after aid: Columbia. Average net price is $22,520 vs $45,802 at Bentley.
  • Graduation: Bentley 88% vs Columbia 93%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bentley $87,200 vs Columbia $107,600 (median).
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Key differences

Bentley University Columbia University in the City of New York
Acceptance rate
Columbia more selective
Bentley45.1%
Columbia4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Columbia higher
Bentley1280-1430
Columbia1510-1580
Average net price
Columbia $23,282 less
Bentley$45,802
Columbia$22,520
In-state tuition
Bentley $10,845 less
Bentley$61,000
Columbia$71,845
Out-of-state tuition
Bentley $10,845 less
Bentley$61,000
Columbia$71,845
Graduation rate
Columbia +5 pts
Bentley88%
Columbia93%
Median earnings (10 years)
Columbia +$20,400
Bentley$87,200
Columbia$107,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Columbia 60,115
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Columbia 2,400
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Columbia 4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • Columbia 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • Columbia 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • Columbia 3.91
  • Typical high school grades
  • Bentley A-
  • Columbia A
  • Admissions standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • Columbia Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Bentley Low
  • Columbia Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Bentley 1280-1430
  • Columbia 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Bentley 28-31
  • Columbia 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Columbia Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Room & board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • Columbia $17,580
  • Average net price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • Columbia $22,520
  • Average grant aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • Columbia $67,010
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • Columbia 52%
  • Graduation rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • Columbia 93%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • Columbia $107,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • Columbia 76%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • Columbia $21,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Bentley $274
  • Columbia $222
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • Columbia 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • Columbia Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • Columbia 35,173
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • Columbia #22

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, 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 Bentley based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 5,333 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Bentley University 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: Bentley University 12:1; 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 12.7% lower than at Bentley University ($17,580 vs. $20,140).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at Columbia than at Bentley University (about $10,845 more per year; $71,845 vs. $61,000).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Columbia University in the City of New York (88% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 99% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($67,010 vs. $33,673).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Columbia than at Bentley (34 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Bentley and Columbia.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Columbia average a 3.91 high school GPA, 0.16 higher than at Bentley (3.75).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Bentley graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,500).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bentley graduates ($222 vs. $274).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation (92% 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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