Columbia vs. RPI

Should I go to Columbia University in the City of New York or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia or RPI 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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Columbia University in the City of New York vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Columbia University in the City of New York Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Columbia University in the City of New York Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 Columbia RPI
Location New York, NY Troy, NY
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 34,782 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia RPI
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $58,600
Room & Board $16,286 $16,980
Avg Net Price $22,058 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 90%

Admission

 Columbia RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 16,863
Admitted 2,404 10,878
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 64.5%
Enrolled % 64.1% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 30/34
SAT Range 1490/1580 1360/1520
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 Jan 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

 Columbia RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Columbia RPI
Graduation Rate 93% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $222 $284

Diversity

 Columbia RPI
% Men 46% 69%
% Women 54% 31%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 59%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 15% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Columbia RPI
% In-State 19% 36%
% Out-of-State 64% 58%

Campus

 Columbia RPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 RPI based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 6,968 students)

Columbia vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or RPI?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 6.8% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.8% higher at Columbia than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($62,570.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than RPI ($22,058 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 4.3% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,286 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Columbia University in the City of New York (90% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 58% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($61,061 vs. $38,636)

Columbia vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or Columbia .

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 105 points higher than at RPI (1368)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RPI (30)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RPI (3.88)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or RPI? 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 RPI and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (93% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $25,100 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $82,500)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($222 vs. $284)
  • More RPI 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/