Columbia College vs Harvard
Columbia College and Harvard University, two of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the United States, offer students a world-class education and a transformative college experience. While they share a commitment to academic excellence, these two schools differ in several key aspects. Columbia College, located in the heart of New York City, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on the liberal arts, while Harvard University, situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is renowned for its research prowess and its wide range of academic programs. With acceptance rates of 6.1% and 4.5%, respectively, both institutions are highly selective, attracting top students from around the world. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these two esteemed universities, including popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic future.
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![]() Columbia College |
![]() Harvard University |
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Overview |
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Location | Columbia, Missouri | 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 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 65.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | 4.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$105
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SAT range | N/A | 1480 - 1580 |
ACT range | N/A | 33 - 36 |
Students submitting SAT score | 54.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 57,786 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,318 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,951 | |
Yield rate | 84.2% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | N/A |
High school GPA | N/A | Not required |
Recommendation letters | N/A | Required |
High school transcript | N/A | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $37,364 | $78,028 |
Average net price | $24,559 | $13,910 |
Tuition | $23,840 | $51,143 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,100
Meal plan:
$3,400
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Room/dormitory:
$11,705
Meal plan:
$7,236
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $13,178 |
56.0%
Average amount $59,840 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
63.0%
Average amount $5,846 |
3.0%
Average amount $5,180 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $15,055 |
2.0%
Average amount $8,080 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,351
Men 40.1% Women 59.9% |
9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0% |
Graduate students |
414
Men 37.0% Women 63.0% |
21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 40.9% | N/A |
International students | 2.5% | 23.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 545 | 12,874 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Missouri Washington Illinois Florida Georgia | New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 20:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 32.5% | 96.7% |
Dropout rate | 63.0% | 2.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
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