Columbia vs. Yale vs. Harvard

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

Columbia University in the City of New York
Yale University
Harvard University

At a glance

  • Lowest net price: Harvard ($17,525 a year). Next is Yale at $22,408, about $4,883 more. Yale and Columbia are within 5% of each other ($22,408, $22,520).
  • Hardest to get into: Harvard (3.6% admitted, typical SAT 1550). Yale is close behind (3.9%, SAT 1520); Columbia 4.0%.
  • Highest graduation rate: Yale (97%). Then Harvard 97%, Columbia 93%.
  • Highest median earnings: Harvard ($136,700 ten years after starting college). Then Yale $118,400, Columbia $107,600.
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Key differences

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Measure Columbia Yale Harvard
Acceptance rateHarvard most selective 4% 3.9% 3.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)Columbia highest 1510-1580 1470-1570 1510-1580
Average net priceHarvard lowest $22,520 $22,408 $17,525
In-state tuitionHarvard lowest $71,845 $67,250 $61,676
Out-of-state tuitionHarvard lowest $71,845 $67,250 $61,676
Graduation rateYale highest 93% 97% 97%
Median earnings (10 years)Harvard highest $107,600 $118,400 $136,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Columbia 60,115
  • Yale 57,517
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Columbia 2,400
  • Yale 2,227
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance rate
  • Columbia 4%
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia 1550
  • Yale 1520
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia 34
  • Yale 34
  • Harvard 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Columbia 3.91
  • Yale 3.95
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical high school grades
  • Columbia A
  • Yale A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions standards
  • Columbia Elite
  • Yale Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Columbia Extreme
  • Yale Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Columbia 1510-1580
  • Yale 1470-1570
  • Harvard 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Columbia 34-35
  • Yale 33-35
  • Harvard 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Columbia Test optional
  • Yale Required
  • Harvard Required
  • Application deadline
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Yale $67,250
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Yale $67,250
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & board
  • Columbia $17,580
  • Yale $19,900
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average net price
  • Columbia $22,520
  • Yale $22,408
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average grant aid
  • Columbia $67,010
  • Yale $65,892
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Columbia 52%
  • Yale 56%
  • Harvard 56%
  • Graduation rate
  • Columbia 93%
  • Yale 97%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Columbia $107,600
  • Yale $118,400
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Columbia 76%
  • Yale 84%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Columbia $21,500
  • Yale $13,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Columbia $222
  • Yale $139
  • Harvard $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Columbia 6:1
  • Yale 5:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Location
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Columbia Large City
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia 35,173
  • Yale 15,564
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Columbia #22
  • Yale #5
  • Harvard #4

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY, Yale University in New Haven, CT, and Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

By total student enrollment, Columbia University in the City of New York is the largest of the three (35,173 students), followed by Harvard (30,259) and Yale (15,564).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Settings: New York, NY (Large City); New Haven, CT (Midsize City); Cambridge, MA (Midsize City).
  • Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia 6:1; Yale 5:1; Harvard 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are lowest at Columbia ($17,580) and highest at Harvard ($21,190); Yale $19,900.
  • The largest share of students receiving grant aid is at Yale (56%), then Harvard (56%) and Columbia (52%).
  • Average grant aid: Harvard $68,015; Columbia $67,010; Yale $65,892.

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate): Harvard 35; Columbia 34; Yale 34.
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Columbia, required at Yale and Harvard.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Yale Jan 2, 2027.
  • Average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen: Harvard 4.0; Yale 3.95; Columbia 3.91.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield): Harvard 83.6%; Yale 69.8%; Columbia 64.9%.

Loans and repayment

  • Median federal loan debt among borrowers: Harvard $6,500; Yale $13,500; Columbia $21,500.
  • Median monthly federal loan payment: Harvard $67; Yale $139; Columbia $222.
  • Share of former students actively paying back federal loans three years after graduation: Yale 84%; Columbia 76%; Harvard 70%.

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

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