Columbia College vs. Alverno College

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

Columbia College Alverno College
Location Chicago, IL Milwaukee, WI
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 6,646 1,596
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu alverno.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Alverno College
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $31,008
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $31,008
Room & Board $18,000 $8,620
Avg Net Price $28,387 $18,097
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $24,833
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College Alverno College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 652
Admitted 7,298 586
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 89.9%
Enrolled % 22%Open 22.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.27
Typical High School Grades B+ 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

Academics

Columbia College Alverno College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Health Professions (40%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Alverno College
Graduation Rate 41% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $31,693
Median Loan Payment $268 $327

Diversity

Columbia College Alverno College
% Men 40% 8%
% Women 60% 92%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 52%
% Black 15% 15%
% Hispanic 11% 23%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Columbia College Alverno College
% In-State 57% 87%
% Out-of-State 40% 12%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than Alverno College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 1,596 students)

Columbia College vs. Alverno College Cost Comparison

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

  • Alverno College is 5.9% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($31,008.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.9% higher at Alverno College than Columbia College Chicago ($31,008.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alverno College than Columbia College ($18,097 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alverno College are 108.8% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($8,620 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alverno College than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alverno College students is 37.8% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($24,833 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. Alverno College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Alverno College (3.27)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Alverno College (89.9%)

Columbia College vs. Alverno College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Alverno College (41% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Alverno College earn on average $1,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $37,300)
  • Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $5,693 lower median federal student loan debt than Alverno College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $31,693)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than Alverno College graduates. ($268 vs. $327)
  • More Alverno College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/