UConn vs. Columbia

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

University of Connecticut
Columbia University in the City of New York

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Columbia (4% admitted vs 52.4%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: Columbia. Average net price is $22,520 vs $25,310 at UConn.
  • Graduation: UConn 83% vs Columbia 93%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UConn $62,000 vs Columbia $107,600 (median).
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Key differences

University of Connecticut Columbia University in the City of New York
Acceptance rate
Columbia more selective
UConn52.4%
Columbia4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Columbia higher
UConn1210-1440
Columbia1510-1580
Average net price
Columbia $2,790 less
UConn$25,310
Columbia$22,520
In-state tuition
UConn $50,801 less
UConn$21,044
Columbia$71,845
Out-of-state tuition
UConn $28,133 less
UConn$43,712
Columbia$71,845
Graduation rate
Columbia +10 pts
UConn83%
Columbia93%
Median earnings (10 years)
Columbia +$45,600
UConn$62,000
Columbia$107,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Columbia 60,115
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Columbia 2,400
  • Acceptance rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Columbia 4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Columbia 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Columbia 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Columbia 3.91
  • Typical high school grades
  • UConn A-
  • Columbia A
  • Admissions standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Columbia Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • UConn Low
  • Columbia Extreme
  • SAT range
  • UConn 1210-1440
  • Columbia 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • UConn 28-33
  • Columbia 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Columbia Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Room & board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Columbia $17,580
  • Average net price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Columbia $22,520
  • Average grant aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Columbia $67,010
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Columbia 52%
  • Graduation rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Columbia 93%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Columbia $107,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Columbia 76%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Columbia $21,500
  • Median loan payment
  • UConn $222
  • Columbia $222
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Columbia 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Columbia Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Columbia 35,173
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Columbia #22

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT 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 UConn based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 28,306 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • University of Connecticut 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: University of Connecticut 17:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 18.2% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($14,380 vs. $17,580).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.4% higher at Columbia than at University of Connecticut (about $28,133 more per year; $71,845 vs. $43,712).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Columbia University in the City of New York (81% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 306% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($67,010 vs. $16,503).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Columbia than at UConn (34 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UConn and Columbia.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Columbia average a 3.91 high school GPA, 0.17 higher than at UConn (3.74).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York and UConn graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Columbia University in the City of New York and UConn graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More UConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation (78% 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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