Side-by-side
Columbia University vs San Diego State University
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 campus feel and a comparable size (35k undergrads vs 37k undergrads) — students often consider these side-by-side.
| Columbia University | San Diego State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 4% | 36% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $65,524 | $8,728 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $65,524 | $21,328 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | — | $8,728 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | — | $21,328 |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 77% |
| Total enrollment | 36,649 | 35,377 |
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-san-diego-state-university.