Side-by-side
Columbia University vs CUNY Queens College
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Same u setting in the Northeast, but more selective (4% vs 64%) — a stretch target if CUNY Queens College is already on your list.
| Columbia University | CUNY Queens College | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 4% | 64% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $65,524 | $7,538 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $65,524 | $15,488 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | — | $7,538 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | — | $15,488 |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 56% |
| Total enrollment | 36,649 | 12,550 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/columbia-university-vs-cuny-queens-college.