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Roosevelt University DePaul Clemson North Greenville University Lander University Winthrop University Furman CSU Liberty University Huntington University Lee University University of South Carolina-Upstate| Columbia College Chicago | Anderson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia College | AU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Anderson, SC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 4,121 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | andersonuniversity.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $30,860 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $30,860 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $11,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $21,633 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $24,409 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Columbia College | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 5,043 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 2,289 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 45.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 34.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | AU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $37,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $26,862 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $277 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 35% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 65% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 2% |
Students |
Columbia College | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 68% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 31% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Columbia College Chicago is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 4,121 students)
Columbia College vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or AU?
- Anderson University is 5.4% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($30,860.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.4% higher at AU than Columbia College Chicago ($30,860.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Anderson University than Columbia College ($21,633 vs. $28,387)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 60.3% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($11,230 vs. $18,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 35.5% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($24,409 vs. $18,020)
Columbia College vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than AU (45.4%)
Columbia College vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or AU? 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 AU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Columbia College Chicago (48% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Anderson University earn on average $200 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($37,500 vs. $37,300)
- Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $862 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,862)
- Columbia College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($268 vs. $277)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/