Columbia College vs. AAC

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL with Art Academy of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than AAC based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 213 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Art Academy of Cincinnati is in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting).
• Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Art Academy of Cincinnati 9:1.

Columbia College vs. AAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or AAC? 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 Columbia College Chicago than AAC ($29,473 vs. $33,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Academy of Cincinnati are 48.3% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($10,660 vs. $20,629).
• Art Academy of Cincinnati is 21.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $7,287 more per year; $41,375.00 vs. $34,088.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.4% higher at AAC than at Columbia College Chicago (about $7,287 more per year; $41,375.00 vs. $34,088.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as at Art Academy of Cincinnati (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 17.1% larger than aid received by Art Academy of Cincinnati students ($22,780 vs. $19,460).

Columbia College vs. AAC Admissions comparison

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

• Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; AAC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027; AAC Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at AAC (3.1).
• Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than AAC (34.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at Columbia College vs. 11.4% at AAC.

Columbia College vs. AAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and AAC? 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).

• Art Academy of Cincinnati's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
• Graduates from Columbia College Chicago earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than AAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College Chicago graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than AAC graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAC graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More AAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.