Columbia vs Berkeley
Columbia University and University of California-Berkeley, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Columbia, located in the heart of New York City, boasts a lower acceptance rate (6.1%) compared to Berkeley's (17.5%). Both universities excel in various disciplines, with Columbia excelling in fields like economics, political science, and psychology, while Berkeley shines in engineering, computer science, and environmental science. Columbia's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students, while Berkeley has a larger undergraduate population. With comparable graduation rates, both universities ensure their students receive a top-notch education. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these esteemed institutions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
  |  |   Columbia University |   University of California-Berkeley | 
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Location | New York, New York | Berkeley, California | 
| Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize | 
| College type | 4 year | 4 year | 
| Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public | 
| Calendar system | Semester | Semester | 
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate | 
| Students retention rate | 99.0% | 96.0% | 
|  Common app member | Yes | No | 
| Religious affiliation | ||
|  | ||
| Admission | ||
| Acceptance rate | 4.1% | 14.4% | 
| Application fees | 
            Undergraduate:
            $85
           
            Graduate:
            $120
           | 
            Undergraduate:
            $70
           
            Graduate:
            $120
           | 
| 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 | 112,843 | 
| Total number of admissions given out | 2,524 | 16,295 | 
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,641 | 6,931 | 
| Yield rate | 65.0% | 42.5% | 
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A | 
| High school GPA | Not required | Required | 
| Recommendation letters | Required | Not required | 
| High school transcript | Not required | Not required | 
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required | 
|  | ||
| Tuition and Fees | ||
| Sticker price | $90,882 | 
            In state:
            $37,920
           
            Out of state:
            $67,674
           | 
| Average net price | $12,411 | $17,652 | 
| Tuition | $60,514 | 
            In state:
            $11,442
           
            Out of state:
            $41,196
           | 
| Room & board | 
            Room/dormitory:
            $9,450
           
            Meal plan:
            $6,000
           | $20,236 | 
| Available payment plans | 
 | 
 | 
|  | ||
| Financial Aid | ||
| Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships) | 53.0% Average amount $57,726 | 52.0% Average amount $21,406 | 
| Students receiving federal student loan | 7.0% Average amount $5,511 | 15.0% Average amount $4,586 | 
| Students taking out private loans | 2.0% Average amount $34,119 | 6.0% Average amount $7,122 | 
|  | ||
| Students and Campus | ||
| Undergraduate students | 8,832 Men 50.6% Women 49.4% | 31,814 Men 45.4% Women 54.6% | 
| Graduate students | 24,944 Men 44.8% Women 55.2% | 13,222 Men 51.7% Women 48.3% | 
| Racial/ethnic diversity | Moderate | Moderate | 
| Out-of-state students | N/A | 16.9% | 
| International students | 37.0% | 18.0% | 
| Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize | 
| Dormitory capacity | 13,071 | 9,630 | 
| First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No | 
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York | 
|  | ||
| Academics | ||
| Popular study areas | 
 | 
 | 
| Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 20:1 | 
| Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | 
|  | ||
| Outcome | ||
| Graduation rate | 97.4% | 92.8% | 
| Dropout rate | 1.7% | 6.3% | 
| 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)
                
              
               
 | 
              
                
                  Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Law (First Professional Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
 
              
                
                  Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
 | 
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