Northwestern University vs Columbia University in the City of New York

Northwestern University and Columbia University in the City of New York are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Columbia University in the City of New York is more selective with a 4.2% acceptance rate compared to Northwestern University's 7.2%. Average SAT scores are 1526 and 1547 respectively.

Cost: Columbia University in the City of New York offers a lower average net price at $20,148, which is $6,995 less than Northwestern University ($27,143). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median salary of $102,491 ten years after enrollment, which is $13,128 more than Northwestern University graduates ($89,363).

Graduation: Northwestern University leads with a 96.2% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 97.4% vs 97.2%.

Campus Size: Northwestern University is the larger campus with 8,960 total students, while Columbia University in the City of New York has 8,899.

Bottom Line: Columbia University in the City of New York stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.