President Barack Obama will receive a Medal of Distinction and deliver the keynote address this spring to graduates of Barnard College.

Barnard is an independent liberal arts women's college and one of the four undergraduate schools of Columbia.

Barnard students who spoke with NY1 were excited, but Columbia students had a mixed reaction.

"It's a good thing for the Columbia community as a whole, but as a Columbia college student it kind of hurts that President Obama wouldn't be coming to our commencement," said one Columbia student.

"I think it's great that he's speaking at Barnard, and I appreciate that, but he definitely should have spoken at Columbia first," said another Columbia student.

"I'm really excited for my mom. I told my mom today and she was way more excited than I was excited," said one Barnard student.

President Obama graduated from Columbia in 1983.

The ceremony will take place May 14.