Columbia College vs. CCAD

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia College Chicago is larger than CCAD based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 916 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Columbus College of Art & Design is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
• Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbus College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Columbus College of Art & Design 10:1.

Columbia College vs. CCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or CCAD? 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 CCAD ($29,473 vs. $31,801).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art & Design are 44.5% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($11,450 vs. $20,629).
• Columbus College of Art & Design is 19.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $6,737 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $34,088.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.8% higher at CCAD than at Columbia College Chicago (about $6,737 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $34,088.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as at Columbus College of Art & Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus College of Art & Design students is 1% larger than aid received by Columbia College Chicago students ($23,000 vs. $22,780).

Columbia College vs. CCAD Admissions comparison

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

• Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; CCAD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.
• Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than CCAD (67.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at Columbia College vs. 32.1% at CCAD.

Columbia College vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Columbus College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
• Graduates from Columbus College of Art & Design earn a median of about $800 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,100 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College Chicago graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than CCAD graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCAD graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More CCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.