Columbia vs United States Naval Academy (USNA)
Columbia University and the United States Naval Academy stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique path to success. Columbia, nestled in the heart of New York City, boasts an acceptance rate of 6.1%, while the Naval Academy, situated in Annapolis, Maryland, maintains a highly selective acceptance rate of 9%. Both institutions excel in academics, with Columbia offering a diverse range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like Economics, Computer Science, and Political Science. The Naval Academy, on the other hand, focuses on developing future naval officers, with majors such as Systems Engineering, Oceanography, and Marine Engineering taking center stage. While Columbia's student body comprises a diverse mix of backgrounds, the Naval Academy's student body is predominantly male, reflecting its military focus. With graduation rates of 95% and 88% respectively, both institutions ensure that their students are well-equipped for their chosen careers. Delve into the comparison table below to discover more about these esteemed
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![]() Columbia University |
![]() United States Naval Academy |
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Overview |
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Location | New York, New York | Annapolis, Maryland |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 99.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 4.1% | 8.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$120
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SAT range | 1470 - 1570 | 1200 - 1420 |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | 26 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 43.0% | 69.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 48.0% |
Total number of applicants | 61,110 | 16,265 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,524 | 1,374 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,641 | 1,183 |
Yield rate | 65.0% | 86.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $90,882 | |
Average net price | $12,411 | |
Tuition | $60,514 | |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,450
Meal plan:
$6,000
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
53.0%
Average amount $57,726 |
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Students receiving federal student loan |
7.0%
Average amount $5,511 |
|
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $34,119 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
8,832
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
4,528
Men 71.3% Women 28.7% |
Graduate students |
24,944
Men 44.8% Women 55.2% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 92.6% |
International students | 37.0% | 1.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 13,071 | 4,667 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | California Texas Maryland Virginia Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | N/A |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 97.4% | 91.3% |
Dropout rate | 1.7% | 8.7% |
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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N/A |
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