PlainCollege

Columbia University in the City of New York vs Harvard University

New York, NY · Cambridge, MA · largest Scorecard gap: median debt at graduation

Scorecard match plate

Pair NY:MA

PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-PAR · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-DEBT

  • PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
  • CROSS-STATE NY × MA
  • ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
  • NET-SPLIT Net-price split
  • EARN-PAR Earnings near-par
  • DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
  • COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
  • GAP-DEBT Largest gap · Median Debt at Graduation

Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.

Decade path · College Scorecard

Only one enrollment path is a trend

ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023

Size changed directionally at one school over 2013–2023; the peer's series stays a range. Both acceptance rates still tightened, so the shared frame is selectivity, not enrollment.

  • Columbia University in the City of New York: enrollment grew +11.7% over 2013–2023; fitted +92 students/yr fitted, r² 0.74.
  • Harvard University: enrollment ranged 6,099–7,973 (2013–2023, 11 points) without a stable fitted direction.
  • Columbia University in the City of New York: acceptance rate tightened -43.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.79).
  • Harvard University: acceptance rate tightened -40.9% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).

College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.

Scorecard metrics

Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair · 1 tied metrics omitted. Teal = better side.

Largest gaps: Columbia University in the City of New York vs Harvard University

  1. MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Harvard University leads on median debt at graduation ($14,000 vs $21,500 at Columbia University in the City of New York)
  2. IN-STATE-TUITION Harvard University leads on in-state tuition ($61,676 vs $71,845 at Columbia University in the City of New York)
  3. OUT-OF-STATE-TUITI Harvard University leads on out-of-state tuition ($61,676 vs $71,845 at Columbia University in the City of New York)

Columbia University in the City of New York profile · Harvard University profile · Compare other colleges

Also on the Scorecard board

Median Debt at Graduation and other Scorecard questions

On median debt at graduation, who leads between Columbia University in the City of New York and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on median debt at graduation at $14,000 versus $21,500 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between Columbia University in the City of New York and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on in-state tuition at $61,676 versus $71,845 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On out-of-state tuition, who leads between Columbia University in the City of New York and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on out-of-state tuition at $61,676 versus $71,845 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); median debt at graduation focus for this pair · 2025