Columbia vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Columbia University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stand as two of the most prestigious universities in the world, each offering a unique educational experience. Columbia, located in the heart of New York City, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, including strong liberal arts and pre-professional offerings. MIT, situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is renowned for its exceptional STEM programs, particularly in engineering and computer science. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in terms of acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Columbia University |
![]() Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
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Overview |
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Location | New York, New York | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Large | 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 | 99.0% | 99.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 4.1% | 4.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$120
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
|
SAT range | 1470 - 1570 | N/A |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 43.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 61,110 | 33,240 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,524 | 1,365 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,641 | 1,177 |
Yield rate | 65.0% | 86.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $90,882 | $58,920 |
Average net price | $12,411 | $30,958 |
Tuition | $60,514 | $55,510 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,450
Meal plan:
$6,000
|
Room/dormitory:
$11,550
Meal plan:
$6,550
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
53.0%
Average amount $57,726 |
100.0%
Average amount $32,562 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
7.0%
Average amount $5,511 |
6.0%
Average amount $5,112 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $34,119 |
1.0%
Average amount $17,891 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
8,832
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
4,638
Men 51.9% Women 48.1% |
Graduate students |
24,944
Men 44.8% Women 55.2% |
7,296
Men 62.0% Women 38.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 37.0% | 29.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 13,071 | 6,280 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | California Texas New York Florida New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 3:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 97.4% | 96.2% |
Dropout rate | 1.7% | 3.0% |
Transferred out | 0.7% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Operations Research (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Construction Management (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
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Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
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