Columbia College vs. Allen College

Deciding between Columbia College Chicago and Allen 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • Allen College Waterloo, IA
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Large City
  • Allen College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • Allen College 483
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • Allen College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • Allen College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College -
  • Allen College -
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Allen College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • Allen College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Allen College $19,516
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Allen College $19,516
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • Allen College $8,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • Allen College -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • Allen College $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 100%
  • Allen College 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • Allen College -
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • Allen College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • Allen College
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • Allen College
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • Allen College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • Allen College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • Allen College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College B+
  • Allen College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Allen College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • Allen College
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Allen College
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Allen College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Allen College Not reported
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027
  • Allen College Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • Allen College 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Allen College
    • Health Professions (100%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 41%
  • Allen College 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • Allen College $49,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 46%
  • Allen College 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • Allen College $16,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $268
  • Allen College $173

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Allen College 11%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 60%
  • Allen College 89%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • Allen College Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • Allen College No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • Allen College 87%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Allen College 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 15%
  • Allen College 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 11%
  • Allen College 0%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Allen College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Allen College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 5%
  • Allen College 1%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Allen College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 7%
  • Allen College 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 54%
  • Allen College 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 44%
  • Allen College 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia College Chicago is larger than Allen College based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 483 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Allen College is in Waterloo, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Allen College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Allen College 8:1.

Columbia College vs. Allen College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Allen 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 57.3% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($8,800 vs. $20,629).
  • Columbia College Chicago is 74.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allen College (about $14,572 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $19,516.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.7% higher at Columbia College than at Allen College (about $14,572 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $19,516.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than at Allen College (100% vs. 0%).

Columbia College vs. Allen College Admissions comparison

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

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

Columbia College vs. Allen College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and Allen 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 Chicago's (41%).
  • Graduates from Allen College earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Allen College graduates have a $9,250 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($16,750 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Allen College graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($173 vs. $268).
  • More Allen College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.