Columbia College vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Columbia College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stand as two of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the United States, each offering a unique educational experience. Columbia College, nestled in the heart of New York City, boasts a diverse student body and a strong liberal arts curriculum, while MIT, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is renowned for its exceptional programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). With acceptance rates of 6.1% and 4.1%, respectively, both institutions are highly selective, attracting top students from around the world. While Columbia College excels in fields like economics, political science, and English, MIT shines in computer science, engineering, and physics. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these esteemed institutions, including student demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Columbia College logo

Columbia College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology logo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Overview

Location Columbia, South Carolina Cambridge, Massachusetts
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 54.0% 99.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 98.6% 4.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 1,278 33,240
Total number of admissions given out 1,260 1,365
Admitted students who chose to enroll 210 1,177
Yield rate 16.7% 86.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $41,142 $58,920
Average net price $20,520 $30,958
Tuition $20,080 $55,510
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,120

Meal plan: $4,200
Room/dormitory: $11,550

Meal plan: $6,550
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $13,663
100.0%
Average amount $32,562
Students receiving federal student loan 77.0%
Average amount $6,081
6.0%
Average amount $5,112
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $10,833
1.0%
Average amount $17,891

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,065
Men 15.2% Women 84.8%
4,638
Men 51.9% Women 48.1%
Graduate students 324
Men 12.7% Women 87.3%
7,296
Men 62.0% Women 38.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 15.0% N/A
International students 0.6% 29.2%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 618 6,280
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from South Carolina Georgia Florida North Carolina Alabama California Texas New York Florida New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Architecture
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 3:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 54.4% 96.2%
Dropout rate 16.3% 3.0%
Transferred out 29.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $51,609
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,941
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $48,181
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,123
  • Year 3: $42,584
Education, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,920
  • Year 2: $40,792
  • Year 3: $41,966
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,802
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $40,157
Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,014
  • Year 2: $30,926
  • Year 3: $35,159
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: $33,769
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,329
  • Year 2: $30,305
  • Year 3: $32,187
Behavioral Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $31,896
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,946
  • Year 2: $22,192
  • Year 3: $27,013
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $144,716
  • Year 2: $150,045
  • Year 3: $183,153
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $170,089
  • Year 2: $165,236
  • Year 3: $182,183
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,191
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $163,496
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,796
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $155,540
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,685
  • Year 2: $137,214
  • Year 3: $155,079
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,229
  • Year 2: $121,226
  • Year 3: $139,548
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $141,603
  • Year 2: $126,504
  • Year 3: $132,987
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $112,885
  • Year 3: $124,425
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,266
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $112,404
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,955
  • Year 2: $104,749
  • Year 3: $109,672

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