Columbia College vs. Adrian College

Deciding between Columbia College Chicago and Adrian 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.

Columbia College Chicago
Adrian College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • Adrian College Adrian, MI
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Large City
  • Adrian College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • Adrian College 1,765
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • Adrian College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • Adrian College #800
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College -
  • Adrian College United Methodist
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Adrian College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • Adrian College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Adrian College $41,684
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Adrian College $41,684
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • Adrian College $20,260
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • Adrian College $25,922
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • Adrian College $29,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 100%
  • Adrian College 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • Adrian College 2,486
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • Adrian College 1,803
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • Adrian College 72.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • Adrian College 26.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • Adrian College 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • Adrian College 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • Adrian College 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College B+
  • Adrian College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Adrian College Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • Adrian College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Adrian College 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Adrian College 873/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Adrian College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027
  • Adrian College Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • Adrian College 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Adrian College
    • Business (21%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 41%
  • Adrian College 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • Adrian College $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 46%
  • Adrian College 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • Adrian College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $268
  • Adrian College $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Adrian College 56%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 60%
  • Adrian College 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • Adrian College Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • Adrian College No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • Adrian College 72%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Adrian College 0%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 15%
  • Adrian College 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 11%
  • Adrian College 5%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Adrian College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Adrian College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 5%
  • Adrian College 4%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Adrian College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 7%
  • Adrian College 9%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 54%
  • Adrian College 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 44%
  • Adrian College 24%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL with Adrian College in Adrian, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than Adrian College based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 1,765 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Adrian College is in Adrian, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Adrian College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Adrian College 16:1.

Columbia College vs. Adrian College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Adrian 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 Adrian College than Columbia College ($25,922 vs. $29,473).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Adrian College are 1.8% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($20,260 vs. $20,629).
  • Adrian College is 22.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $7,596 more per year; $41,684.00 vs. $34,088.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.3% higher at Adrian College than at Columbia College Chicago (about $7,596 more per year; $41,684.00 vs. $34,088.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than at Adrian College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Adrian College students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Columbia College Chicago students ($29,966 vs. $22,780).

Columbia College vs. Adrian College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Adrian 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 Adrian College and Columbia College.

  • Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAdrian College 873/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAdrian College 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; Adrian College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027; Adrian College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Adrian College (3.2).
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Adrian College (72.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at Columbia College vs. 26.3% at Adrian College.

Columbia College vs. Adrian College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and Adrian 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).

  • Adrian College's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
  • Graduates from Adrian College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College Chicago graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Adrian College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Adrian College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Adrian College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 46%)

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.