Columbia College vs. Allen College

Should I go to Columbia College Chicago or Allen College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or Allen 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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Columbia College Chicago vs. Allen College comparison
Columbia College Chicago Allen College College 3 College 4
Columbia College Chicago
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Overview

Columbia College Allen College
Location Chicago, IL Waterloo, IA
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,646 497
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu allencollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Allen College
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $19,236
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $19,236
Room & Board $18,000 $7,280
Avg Net Price $28,387 $31,509
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $1,625
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College Allen College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 -
Admitted 7,298 -
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open
Enrolled % 22%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.41 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

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

Students

Columbia College Allen College
% In-State 57% 100%
% Out-of-State 40% 0%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than Allen College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 497 students)

Columbia College vs. Allen College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Allen College?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 52.2% more expensive to attend than Allen College for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $19,236.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.2% higher at Columbia College than Allen College ($29,270.00 vs. $19,236.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College Chicago than Allen College ($28,387 vs. $31,509)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allen College are 147.3% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($7,280 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Allen College than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 1,008.9% larger than aid received Allen College ($18,020 vs. $1,625)

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

Columbia College vs. Allen College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Allen 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 Allen College and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Allen College is higher than Columbia College Chicago (50% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Allen College earn on average $11,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($49,100 vs. $37,300)
  • Allen College students graduate with a $9,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($16,750 vs. $26,000)
  • Allen College graduates are paying $95 less per month on federal student loans 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/