NYU vs. Columbia: How Do They Compare?

New York University (NYU) and Columbia University have a number of things in common: They share an island, are located only six miles apart, and show up on lists of the best colleges in New York. It’s easy to see the similarities — both are highly selective, private research universities in Manhattan. But, there are major differences between NYU and Columbia.

From the campus culture to the student body, NYU and Columbia look very different. Wondering about the difference between NYU vs. Columbia? We break down how the universities compare.

When it comes to the best colleges in New York City, NYU and Columbia are both at the top of the list. But there are differences between the schools in terms of campus culture, cost, and acceptance rates.

You might think NYU and Columbia have similar campus vibes – they’re both elite private universities in Manhattan, after all. But the campus culture at each school is distinct.

NYU calls Greenwich Village home. In the heart of Lower Manhattan, loosely arranged around Washington Square Park, you’ll find the many buildings of NYU’s main campus. But don’t expect iron gates or quads – the campus is integrated into the city in a way that makes students feel like New York City is their campus. NYU has more real estate across Manhattan than Columbia, and even has a Brooklyn campus.

Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus is still in Manhattan, but it feels removed from the city’s vibrant center. Plus, you’ll have fewer subway options within walking distance than NYU. But Columbia does stand out for its scenic campus and classical architecture. The historic campus features stunning buildings like Low Library, where students like to hang out on the steps.

It’s no secret that Columbia and NYU are both highly selective institutions. But there’s an important difference in their acceptance rates.

Columbia has one of the lowest acceptance rates for any college. Fewer than 4% of applicants receive an admission letter. And while over 60,000 students apply, only around 2,200 get in.

NYU also has a very low acceptance rate, but your odds are slightly higher. Of the more than 100,000 students who applied in 2021, around 12% got in. However, the university is getting more selective. For the 2022 admission cycle, only 8% of applicants received an admission offer – and three of NYU’s undergrad colleges admitted fewer than 5% of applicants.

NYU and Columbia also report a difference in the percentage of admitted students who chose to attend. At NYU, 49% of admitted students join the incoming class, while that number jumps to 64% at Columbia.

Looking at tuition alone, you might think Columbia is more expensive. In 2022, the Ivy League school charged $66,140 in tuition and fees. By comparison, NYU listed a tuition rate of $58,168.

But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see that there’s a cost difference between the two schools. The average net price at Columbia was $22,000 in 2021, while NYU’s average net price was $29,500. So, while Columbia might look more expensive on paper, it’s more affordable than NYU when you factor in financial aid.

You’ll find a very different student body at NYU vs. Columbia. Take the size of the undergraduate class. At NYU, over 29,000 undergrads enroll. In comparison, Columbia has fewer than 9,000 undergrads. The two private universities have similar graduate enrollments, with around 26,000 for Columbia and nearly 30,000 for NYU.

There are other differences amongst the student bodies at these two schools. Columbia’s undergrad class includes 19% international students, while international students make up 26% of NYU’s student body.

But on some metrics, the two schools look similar. At NYU, 19% of the Class of 2027 identifies as first-generation college students, while 20% are Pell Grant recipients. And at Columbia, first-gen students also make up 19% of the Class of 2027, while 21% are Pell Grant recipients.

There’s some overlap when it comes to the most popular majors at NYU vs. Columbia. Both schools rank computer science, economics, and psychology among the five most popular majors. But the lists look different when you dig into the data.

At Columbia, the school’s STEM emphasis puts engineering among the top majors. Political science also ranks high. In contrast, NYU’s most popular major is liberal arts. Nursing also makes the list. And NYU shines when it comes to performing arts. Popular visual and performing arts majors include drama and cinematography. NYU has over 200 major options, while Columbia has about 80.

Both NYU and Columbia have highly selective admissions. During the 2022 admission cycle, Columbia admitted just 3.9% of applicants. That year, NYU admitted 8% of applicants. The two private institutions have different class sizes – Columbia’s Class of 2027 has around 2,200 students, while NYU has 5,700.

Both NYU and Columbia are prestigious universities. Overall, it’s harder to get into Columbia. The private institution is also part of the Ivy League. However, NYU competes with Columbia in many areas, including performing arts, business, and law. NYU also offers more online classes than Columbia.

The best colleges in NYC include Columbia, an Ivy League school, and New York University. Both report highly selective admissions, accepting less than 10% of applicants in 2022. Other top-ranked institutions include Barnard College, a women’s liberal arts college, Fordham University, and the CUNY system of public universities.

Page last reviewed on November 10, 2023