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Compare Columbia University in the City of New York vs University of Rochester

New York, NY · Rochester, NY

Columbia University in the City of New YorkUniversity of Rochester
Cost
Price after aid (average)$21,590/yr$29,278/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$4,570/yr$9,678/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$21,500$21,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$2,275/yr$12,185/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$5,866/yr$21,087/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$11,782/yr$27,883/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$50,621/yr$46,801/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$228/mo$223/mo
Room & board (on campus)$17,580/yr$19,792/yr
Room & board (off campus)$18,802/yrNo data reported
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,440/yr$1,310/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,508/yr$1,380/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$89,472/yr$85,962/yr
Tuition (in-state)$71,845/yr$67,080/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$71,845/yr$67,080/yr
Students with Pell Grants23%17%
Students taking federal loans14%40%
Getting in
Students who get accepted4%40%
SAT range (middle 50%)1510–15801410–1540
SAT average15531488
ACT range (middle 50%)34–3531–34
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 32–36 · Math 35–36English 33–35 · Math 30–35
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received57,61321,680
Students accepted2,4397,773
Students who enrolled1,5401,543
Accepted students who enroll63%20%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores40%26%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores21%10%
High-school GPARequiredOptional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testOptional (considered if sent)Required
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate96%85%
Freshmen who come back98%91%
Typical earnings 10 years in$102,491/yr$79,042/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$62,687–$162,279$50,106–$116,695
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)94%90%
White students graduating97%87%
Black students graduating97%77%
Hispanic students graduating94%79%
Asian students graduating99%81%
Typical earnings 6 years in$88,535/yr$68,333/yr
Earn more than a HS grad88%86%
Graduate on time81%71%
Pell students who graduate93%79%
First-gen students who finish78%80%
Low-income students who finish77%78%
Students who transfer out0.5%4%
Typical earnings 8 years in$98,435/yr$75,218/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 27% · Computer & Information Sciences 16% · Engineering 12%Biological & Biomedical Sciences 13% · Health Professions 12% · Business, Management & Marketing 11%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 27% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 13% of degrees
2nd most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 16% of degreesHealth Professions — 12% of degrees
3rd most popular programEngineering — 12% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 11% of degrees
4th most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degreesSocial Sciences — 10% of degrees
5th most popular programEnglish Language & Literature — 5% of degreesEngineering — 10% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Law — $220,843/yrManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods — $127,604/yr
Degrees in STEM42%39%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment8,9736,331
Students per professor6 : 19 : 1
Graduate students26,0095,366
Average professor pay$21,516/mo$14,585/mo
Full-time professors43%95%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byMiddle States Commission on Higher EducationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$31,310$62,874
SettingCity (large)City (midsize)
LocationNew York, NYRochester, NY
RegionMid EastMid East
Founded17541850
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityDoctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students20%23%
Men50%47%
Women50%53%
White students29%39%
Black students7.5%5.2%
Hispanic or Latino students15%8.3%
Asian students19%18%
Two or more races6.3%4.3%
Other / not reported3.7%3%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students25%19%
Part-time students6.7%3.3%
Students age 25+14%6.3%
Spent on teaching per student$110,371/yr$40,019/yr
Endowment$14.8B$3.0B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing13,2845,618
Required to live on campusNoYes — for first-year students
Room charge (campus housing)$10,440/yr$11,332/yr
Meal plan charge$6,360/yr$7,592/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCYes — Army, Navy, Air ForceYes — Army, Navy, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoYes
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationNoYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesNo
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planYesNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division III with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams2719
Student athletes799579
Athletic scholarships$0$0
Athletics budget$43.3M$8.3M
Athletics revenue$43.3M$8.3M
Recruiting spend$1.3M$117,491

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.