CMU - CLAS vs. Columbia College

Deciding between Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 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.

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU - CLAS Fayette, MO
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • Setting
  • CMU - CLAS Distant Town
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU - CLAS 1,041
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • Type
  • CMU - CLAS Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU - CLAS #598
  • Columbia College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU - CLAS United Methodist
  • Columbia College Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • CMU - CLAS Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU - CLAS
  • Columbia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU - CLAS $28,260
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU - CLAS $28,260
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Room & Board
  • CMU - CLAS $9,450
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU - CLAS $22,929
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU - CLAS $20,598
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU - CLAS 100%
  • Columbia College 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU - CLAS 1,542
  • Columbia College -
  • Admitted
  • CMU - CLAS 877
  • Columbia College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU - CLAS 56.9%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Enrolled
  • CMU - CLAS 35.1%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU - CLAS 1000
  • Columbia College
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU - CLAS 20
  • Columbia College
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU - CLAS 3.5
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU - CLAS A-
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU - CLAS Extremely Easy
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU - CLAS Low
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • CMU - CLAS 17/23
  • Columbia College
  • SAT Range
  • CMU - CLAS 960/1045
  • Columbia College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU - CLAS Test optional
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU - CLAS Aug 15, 2027
  • Columbia College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU - CLAS 12:1
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU - CLAS
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU - CLAS 43%
  • Columbia College 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU - CLAS $38,600
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU - CLAS 63%
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU - CLAS $16,875
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU - CLAS $174
  • Columbia College $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU - CLAS 49%
  • Columbia College 41%
  • % Women
  • CMU - CLAS 51%
  • Columbia College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU - CLAS Low
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • CMU - CLAS No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • CMU - CLAS 78%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • CMU - CLAS 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Black
  • CMU - CLAS 8%
  • Columbia College 25%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU - CLAS 3%
  • Columbia College 8%
  • % Native American
  • CMU - CLAS 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU - CLAS 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU - CLAS 3%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % International
  • CMU - CLAS 4%
  • Columbia College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU - CLAS 4%
  • Columbia College 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU - CLAS 64%
  • Columbia College 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU - CLAS 29%
  • Columbia College 37%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Fayette, MO with Columbia College in Columbia, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College is larger than CMU - CLAS based on total student enrollment (5,689 students vs. 1,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is located in Fayette, MO (Distant Town setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting).
  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 12:1; Columbia College 20:1.

CMU - CLAS vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

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

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College than CMU - CLAS ($21,530 vs. $22,929).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are 1.1% lower than at Columbia College ($9,450 vs. $9,552).
  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $2,434 more per year; $28,260.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at CMU - CLAS than at Columbia College (about $2,434 more per year; $28,260.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences than at Columbia College (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students is 29.7% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($20,598 vs. $15,882).

CMU - CLAS vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMU - CLAS 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 CMU - CLAS.

  • Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 960/1045.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - CLAS - Test optional; Columbia College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CMU - CLAS Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at CMU - CLAS (3.5).

CMU - CLAS vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU - CLAS 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).

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than Columbia College's (39%).
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than CMU - CLAS graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,800 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates have a $5,159 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($16,875 vs. $22,034).
  • Among borrowers, CMU - CLAS graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($174 vs. $227).
  • More CMU - CLAS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.