Rutgers vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Columbia based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 35,173 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, 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: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Rutgers vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Columbia? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Columbia ($20,522 vs. $22,520).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 10.6% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,714 vs. $17,580).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 300.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $53,916 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $17,929.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 91.9% higher at Columbia than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $34,404 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $37,441.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (52% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 300.3% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($67,010 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Columbia? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Columbia and Rutgers.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 140 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
• Incoming Columbia students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
• Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Rutgers vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Columbia? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $41,400 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have a $715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,215).
• Among borrowers, Columbia graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($222 vs. $229).
• More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.