Location
- Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- New York, NY
Northwestern University vs Columbia University in the City of New York
Evanston, IL · New York, NY · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair IL:NY
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE IL × NY
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
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.
- Northwestern University: enrollment ranged 8,401–8,960 (2013–2023, 11 points) without a stable fitted direction.
- Northwestern University: acceptance rate tightened -53.3% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.86).
- Columbia University in the City of New York: acceptance rate tightened -43.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.79).
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
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Northwestern University
- 9,201
Acceptance Rate
Median Debt at Graduation
- Northwestern University
- $15,000
Avg Net Price
- Northwestern University
- $29,167
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Northwestern University
- $76,844
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Northwestern University
- $89,363
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Northwestern University
- 91.3%
In-State Tuition
- Northwestern University
- $68,322
Out-of-State Tuition
- Northwestern University
- $68,322
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Evanston, IL | New York, NY |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 9,201 | 8,973 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.7% | 4.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,000 | $21,500 |
| Avg Net Price | $29,167 | $21,590 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $76,844 | $88,535 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $89,363 | $102,491 |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 91.3% | 83.9% |
| In-State Tuition | $68,322 | $71,845 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $68,322 | $71,845 |
Largest gaps: Northwestern University vs Columbia University in the City of New York
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Columbia University in the City of New York leads on acceptance rate (4.0% vs 7.7% at Northwestern University)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Northwestern University leads on median debt at graduation ($15,000 vs $21,500 at Columbia University in the City of New York)
- AVG-NET-PRICE Columbia University in the City of New York leads on avg net price ($21,590 vs $29,167 at Northwestern University)
Northwestern University profile · Columbia University in the City of New York profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Northwestern University and Columbia University in the City of New York?▼
Columbia University in the City of New York leads on acceptance rate at 4.0% versus 7.7% at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Northwestern University and Columbia University in the City of New York?▼
Northwestern University leads on median debt at graduation at $15,000 versus $21,500 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between Northwestern University and Columbia University in the City of New York?▼
Columbia University in the City of New York leads on avg net price at $21,590 versus $29,167 at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025