Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Roosevelt University DePaul CCAD Huntington University Northern Illinois Emerson MIAD WPI Ithaca College Berklee School of Music ISU University of Missouri-Kansas City| Columbia College Chicago | Art Academy of Cincinnati | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | AAC | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,529 | 259 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | artacademy.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | AAC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,734 | $37,500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,734 | $37,500 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,838 | $10,325 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,790 | $28,899 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,851 | $19,277 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Columbia College | AAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,873 | 1,056 | ||
| Admitted | 7,178 | 350 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.2%Open | 33.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.4%Open | 16.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.1 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | AAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Columbia College | AAC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $30,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 55% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $279 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | AAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Columbia College | AAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 42% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | AAC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Columbia College Chicago is larger than than AAC based on total student enrollment (6,529 students vs. 259 students)
Columbia College vs. AAC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or AAC?
- Art Academy of Cincinnati is 22% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($37,500.00 vs. $30,734.00)
- Out of state tuition is 22% higher at AAC than Columbia College Chicago ($37,500.00 vs. $30,734.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Art Academy of Cincinnati than Columbia College ($28,899 vs. $29,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Academy of Cincinnati are 63.1% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,325 vs. $16,838)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Art Academy of Cincinnati than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 8.2% larger than aid received Art Academy of Cincinnati ($20,851 vs. $19,277)
Columbia College vs. AAC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or AAC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AAC or Columbia College .
- 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 (91.2%) than AAC (33.1%)
Columbia College vs. AAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or AAC? 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 AAC and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at AAC is higher than Columbia College Chicago (44% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Columbia College Chicago earn on average $6,900 more per year than AAC graduates after ten years. ($37,300 vs. $30,400)
- Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than AAC graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- Columbia College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans 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/