Allen College vs. Columbia College

Deciding between Allen College and Columbia College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Allen College Waterloo, IA
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • Setting
  • Allen College Rural Fringe
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Allen College 483
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • Type
  • Allen College Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Allen College -
  • Columbia College Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • Allen College Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Allen College $19,516
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Allen College $19,516
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Room & Board
  • Allen College $8,800
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • Average Net Price
  • Allen College -
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Allen College $0
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Allen College 0%
  • Columbia College 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Allen College -
  • Columbia College -
  • Admitted
  • Allen College -
  • Columbia College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College Open
  • Enrolled
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Allen College -
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Allen College -
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Allen College Unavailable
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College
  • SAT Range
  • Allen College
  • Columbia College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Allen College Not reported
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Allen College Feb 1, 2027
  • Columbia College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Allen College 8:1
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Allen College
    • Health Professions (100%)
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Allen College 50%
  • Columbia College 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Allen College $49,100
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Allen College 84%
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Allen College $16,750
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Allen College $173
  • Columbia College $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Allen College 11%
  • Columbia College 41%
  • % Women
  • Allen College 89%
  • Columbia College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Allen College Extremely Low
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • Allen College No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • Allen College 87%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Allen College 1%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Black
  • Allen College 2%
  • Columbia College 25%
  • % Hispanic
  • Allen College 0%
  • Columbia College 8%
  • % Native American
  • Allen College 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Allen College 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Allen College 1%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % International
  • Allen College 0%
  • Columbia College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Allen College 8%
  • Columbia College 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Allen College 100%
  • Columbia College 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Allen College 0%
  • Columbia College 37%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Allen College Yes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Allen College No
  • Columbia College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Allen College No
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Allen College Yes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Allen College No
  • Columbia College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Allen College in Waterloo, IA with Columbia College in Columbia, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College is larger than Allen College based on total student enrollment (5,689 students vs. 483 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Allen College is located in Waterloo, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting).
  • Allen College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Allen College 8:1; Columbia College 20:1.

Allen College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allen College or Columbia College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allen College are 7.9% lower than at Columbia College ($8,800 vs. $9,552).
  • Columbia College is 32.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allen College (about $6,310 more per year; $25,826.00 vs. $19,516.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.3% higher at Columbia College than at Allen College (about $6,310 more per year; $25,826.00 vs. $19,516.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Allen College (91% vs. 0%).

Allen College vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Allen College or Columbia College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Columbia College and Allen College.

  • Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Allen College - Not reported; Columbia College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Allen College Feb 1, 2027.

Allen College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allen College and Columbia College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Allen College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Columbia College's (39%).
  • Graduates from Allen College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Allen College graduates have a $5,284 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($16,750 vs. $22,034).
  • Among borrowers, Allen College graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($173 vs. $227).
  • More Allen College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.