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Roosevelt University DePaul UIC Northeastern Illinois University EIU Huntington University Northern Illinois KU Dominican Emerson IU HCC| Chicago State University | Columbia College Chicago | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CSU | Columbia College | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Chicago, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,317 | 6,646 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #870 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csu.edu | colum.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | Columbia College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,656 | $29,270 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,656 | $29,270 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,800 | $18,000 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $6,446 | $28,387 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,891 | $18,020 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 99% |
Admission |
CSU | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,404 | 7,701 | ||
| Admitted | 3,592 | 7,298 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 48.5% | 94.8%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 4.8% | 22%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.18 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 15/19 | |||
| SAT Range | 750/963 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
CSU | Columbia College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | Columbia College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 41% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,300 | $37,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 25% | 46% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $31,250 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $323 | $268 |
Diversity |
CSU | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 3% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 75% | 15% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 7% |
Students |
CSU | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 57% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 40% | ||
Campus |
CSU | Columbia College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Columbia College Chicago is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 2,317 students)
CSU vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or Columbia College?
- Columbia College Chicago is 282.3% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $7,656.00)
- Out of state tuition is 282.3% higher at Columbia College than Chicago State University ($29,270.00 vs. $7,656.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than Columbia College ($6,446 vs. $28,387)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chicago State University are 30.4% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($13,800 vs. $18,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Chicago State University (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 13.4% larger than aid received Chicago State University ($18,020 vs. $15,891)
CSU vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or Columbia College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Columbia College or CSU .
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at CSU (3.18)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than CSU (48.5%)
CSU vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU 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 CSU.
- The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Chicago State University (41% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from Chicago State University earn on average $1,000 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($38,300 vs. $37,300)
- Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $31,250)
- Columbia College graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($268 vs. $323)
- More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 25%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/