Columbia College vs. Cleveland State

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

 Columbia College Cleveland State
Location Chicago, IL Cleveland, OH
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 6,529 14,117
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #780
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $30,734 $12,503
Tuition (Out of State) $30,734 $17,863
Room & Board $16,838 $14,760
Avg Net Price $29,790 $16,307
Avg Grant Aid $20,851 $10,148
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 88%

Admission

 Columbia College Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,873 10,274
Admitted 7,178 9,810
Acceptance Rate 91.2%Open 95.5%
Enrolled % 22.4%Open 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 880/1130
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, 2026 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

 Columbia College Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 41% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $222

Diversity

 Columbia College Cleveland State
% Men 1% 15%
% Women 2% 18%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 64%
% Black 15% 17%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

 Columbia College Cleveland State
% In-State 57% 85%
% Out-of-State 40% 7%

Campus

 Columbia College Cleveland State
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

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (14,117 students vs. 6,529 students)

Columbia College vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Cleveland State?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 145.8% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($30,734.00 vs. $12,503.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 72.1% higher at Columbia College than Cleveland State University ($30,734.00 vs. $17,863.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Columbia College ($16,307 vs. $29,790)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland State University are 14.1% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($14,760 vs. $16,838)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Cleveland State University (99% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 105.5% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($20,851 vs. $10,148)

Columbia College vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Columbia College (91.2%)

Columbia College vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Cleveland State? 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 Cleveland State and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Cleveland State University (41% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $6,900 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $37,300)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 46%)

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