CMU - CLAS vs. Columbia College

Should I go to Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences or Columbia College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CMU - CLAS or Columbia College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences vs. Columbia College comparison
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Overview

 CMU - CLAS Columbia College
Location Fayette, MO Columbia, MO
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,080 6,046
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #781
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralmethodist.edu ccis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CMU - CLAS Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $26,360 $24,326
Tuition (Out of State) $26,360 $24,326
Room & Board $8,910 $8,670
Avg Net Price $24,828 $22,824
Avg Grant Aid $18,044 $13,725
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

 CMU - CLAS Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,166 -
Admitted 1,141 -
Acceptance Rate 97.9% Open
Enrolled % 25.8% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 930/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 CMU - CLAS Columbia College
% Men 48% 40%
% Women 52% 60%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 78% 55%
% Black 8% 25%
% Hispanic 3% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

 CMU - CLAS Columbia College
% In-State 59% 56%
% Out-of-State 27% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than CMU - CLAS based on total student enrollment (6,046 students vs. 1,080 students)

CMU - CLAS vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU - CLAS or Columbia College?

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is 8.4% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($26,360.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.4% higher at CMU - CLAS than Columbia College ($26,360.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College than CMU - CLAS ($22,824 vs. $24,828)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 2.8% lower than costs at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences ($8,670 vs. $8,910)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences than Columbia College (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students is 31.5% larger than aid received Columbia College ($18,044 vs. $13,725)

Which college is harder to get into, CMU - CLAS or Columbia College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Columbia College or CMU - CLAS .

  • 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

Which is better, CMU - CLAS or Columbia College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Columbia College and CMU - CLAS.

  • The graduation rate at CMU - CLAS is higher than Columbia College (43% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn on average $3,200 more per year than CMU - CLAS graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $38,600)
  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students graduate with a $5,159 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($16,875 vs. $22,034)
  • CMU - CLAS graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans 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/