Columbia and Harvard University are both Private four-year universities in USA. For an international student applying to study in USA, opting between the two can be difficult. Comapre the two universities on the comprehensive information given below:
| Columbia University | Harvard University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 8.4 Out of 10 | 10 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 12 US News 2024 # 17 Times Higher Education 2024 # 23 QS World University 2024 | # 3 US News 2024 # 4 QS World University 2024 # 4 Times Higher Education 2024 |
| Subject Strength | # 17 for Engineering by US News 2024 # 4 for Medicine by US News 2024 # 4 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024 | # 1 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024 # 1 for Medicine by US News 2024 # 1 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024 |
| Programs | UG Programs -23 PG Programs -58 Doctorate Programs -7 | UG Programs -40 PG Programs -58 Doctorate Programs -8 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.0 % | 5.6 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT - 680 IELTS - 7 SAT - 1410 TOEFL - 100 | GMAT - 620 GRE updated - 326 IELTS - 6.5 SAT - 1460 TOEFL - 90 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 58440 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 53040 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 10416 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 52659 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 18600 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 31689 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Columbia University is one of the top private universities in New York City, United States. It is ranked #22 in QS World University Rankings 2023. Ranked #18 in Graduate Employability Rank Base Salaries by the following degrees: Bachelor (Other): $500,000 Other Degree: $280,000 Doctorate: $200,000 Executive MBA: $175,000 MBA: $150,000 Executive Masters: $147,000 | Harvard University is one of the top private universities in Cambridge, United States. It is ranked #5 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and ranked #1 in US UNI. Other Degree: $200,000 Doctorate: $190,000 Executive Masters: $172,000 MBA: $168,000 Executive MBA: $160,000 LLM: $152,000 |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Teachers College at Columbia University Columbia Business School | Harvard Law School Harvard Extension School Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Business School |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.6/10 Read 11 reviews | 7.3/10 Read 4 reviews |
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| General Facts | Columbia University | Harvard University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1754 | 1636 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 7:1 |
| Male:Female | 52% Male, 48% Female | 52% Male, 48% Female |
| Location Facts | Lies in the heart of NYC on Broadway and two faculties located outside Manhattan. | Harvard Yard: Campus’s historic hub, Harvard Square: Campus’s personal hagout destination with restaurants, cafe, bookstores, theater, shops. Well connected to the local neighborhood of Boston by public transport, the campus traverses the Charles River to near by Allston. |
| Library | The low memorial library is a landmark. The university owns around 23 libraries scattered across the city. | Largest academic library in the world. 20.4 million volumes, 400 million manuscript items, 180,000 serial titles. The library offers various grants and fellowships for both students and faculty. |
| Campus Life | Art Gallery The university offers it all!!! | Students from over 50 states and 80 countries are offered assistance by over 400 official student organization. The campus has its own museum, radio station, magazine and newspaper. Along with student clubs for Aikikai, archery, dance, theatre/drama, music, etc, campus also offers cultural & racial initiatives, asian student centric-projects, etc. Varsity sports, crimson pride and various atheletic teams. |
| Hostel | #First-Year Residents - $10416 | #Medium Single - $10404 #Large Single - $13248 #Standard Single - $8037 |
| Famous Alumni | Barak Obama (Former US President), Alexander Hamilton (founding father of USA), Alicia Keys (singer), Sara Ali Khan (actress), Dorothy Irene Height (Women rights activist), Jake Gyllenhall (actor). | Eight US Presidents, 62 living billionaires, 242 Marshall Scholars, 359 Rhodes scholars. Barak Obama (ex-president of USA), Michelle Obama (Former First Lady of USA), Mark Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman (Actress), Bill Gates, Conan O’ Brien (comedian writer), Al Gore (Winner-Peace Prize), Matt Damon (Actor), Helen Keller, Subramaniam Swami (Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha) |
| City Life |
Total international students in NY- 11% | Cambridge- city in Massachusetts; home to a huge student community; city offers a great nightlife with gastropubs, live music, and cocktail bars. Boston’s cosmopolitan excitement is bus-ride away. Average salaries offered within the state are up to 97,5000 USD; Famous tourist attractions: Charles River, Harvard Square, Mount Auburn Cemetery, MIT Museum, CambrdgeSide, John Harvard Statue, Sanders Theatre; Unemployment rate- 3.2% |
| Weather |
Columbia University Ranks among top 20 universities across the globe while Harvard Rankings lie betwen the top 10 according to varoious ranking agencies. Where Harvard is one of the best universities in Massachusetts, Columbia University is one of the best to pursue education in New York City. Here is a brief detail on why should an applicant opt one specific university over the other out of these two:
Why Study at Harvard University
- The tuition fees for Harvard University is lower than Columbia University.
- MBA rankings and weighted salaries offered to MBA graduates are higher (as per Financial Times 2020 Global MBA rankings)
- Graduation Rate is higher- 98%
- Better Graduate employability rankings.
- Largest library collection
- Close knit student community
- more number of Nobel laureates affiliated to the university.
Why Study at Columbia University
- Low on-campus cost of living
- More number of programs are offered at Columbia University
- Columbia has a better acceptance rate and it is relatively easy to get admissions in Columbia University
- Relatively low exam score required for admissions
- Columbia performs better in engineering and technology programs.
- Higher funding opportunities
Though both the universities are prestigious and are considered to be offering world class higher education in USA, the choice will depend on factors like exam score obtained, budget, interests, and academic excellence of a student.
Harvard University is a brand name for extraordinarily performing students, while at Columbia academic excellence is one of the part of your overall growth. Additionally, Harvard has a rather dull surroundings, while Columbia University offers a world of experiences through New York City.
Harvard offers better returns on investment for most of the program but for an engineering student, with MIT as its competition and contemporary in the state of Massachusetts, Harvard should not be preffered over Columbia University, as per US News Rankings.
There is no one obvious choice that can be pointed out for the two universities, as the needs of student and their choice of program will highly affect the predicament of which university is better.
