UMass vs. Columbia

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

UMass Columbia
Location Amherst, MA New York, NY
Setting Town Fringe Large City
Enrollment 32,229 34,782
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #176 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umass.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UMass Columbia
Tuition (In State) $16,186 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $37,405 $62,570
Room & Board $14,123 $16,286
Avg Net Price $22,291 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $12,350 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 52%

Admission

UMass Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 45,451 60,879
Admitted 28,871 2,404
Acceptance Rate 63.5% 3.9%
Enrolled % 19.4% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.99 3.91
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 29/33 34/35
SAT Range 1260/1480 1490/1580
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 15, 2024 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

UMass Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

UMass Columbia
Graduation Rate 67% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,200 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $222

Diversity

UMass Columbia
% Men 49% 46%
% Women 51% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 38%
% Black 4% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 4% 15%
% Unknown Race 8% 3%

Students

UMass Columbia
% In-State 65% 19%
% Out-of-State 24% 64%

Campus

UMass Columbia
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than UMass based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 32,229 students)

UMass vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 286.6% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $16,186.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67.3% higher at Columbia than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($62,570.00 vs. $37,405.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than UMass ($22,058 vs. $22,291)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 15.3% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($14,123 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than Columbia University in the City of New York (85% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 394.4% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($61,061 vs. $12,350)

UMass vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 247 points higher than at UMass (1226)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at UMass (28)
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Columbia (3.91)
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Columbia (3.9%)

UMass vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (93% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $52,400 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $55,200)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than UMass graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than UMass graduates. ($222 vs. $248)
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/