Columbia College vs. CUW

Should I go to Columbia College Chicago or Concordia University Wisconsin? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or CUW 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. Concordia University Wisconsin comparison
Columbia College Chicago Concordia University Wisconsin College 3 College 4
Columbia College Chicago Concordia University Wisconsin
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Overview

 Columbia College CUW
Location Chicago, IL Mequon, WI
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,646 4,988
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #395
Religious Affiliation - Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu cuw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College CUW
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $32,770
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $32,770
Room & Board $18,000 $12,160
Avg Net Price $28,387 $24,485
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $23,477
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

 Columbia College CUW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 3,544
Admitted 7,298 2,494
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 70.4%
Enrolled % 22%Open 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26
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 CUW
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (40%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (4%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College CUW
Graduation Rate 41% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,925
Median Loan Payment $268 $247

Diversity

 Columbia College CUW
% Men 40% 33%
% Women 60% 67%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 72%
% Black 15% 15%
% Hispanic 11% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

 Columbia College CUW
% In-State 57% 63%
% Out-of-State 40% 37%

Campus

 Columbia College CUW
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 CUW based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 4,988 students)

Columbia College vs. CUW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or CUW?

  • Concordia University Wisconsin is 12% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($32,770.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12% higher at CUW than Columbia College Chicago ($32,770.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Concordia University Wisconsin than Columbia College ($24,485 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Concordia University Wisconsin are 48% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($12,160 vs. $18,000)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as Concordia University Wisconsin (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Wisconsin students is 30.3% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($23,477 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. CUW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman CUW students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than CUW (70.4%)

Columbia College vs. CUW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or CUW? 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 CUW and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at CUW is higher than Columbia College Chicago (58% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Concordia University Wisconsin earn on average $8,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $37,300)
  • Concordia University Wisconsin students graduate with a $2,075 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($23,925 vs. $26,000)
  • CUW graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($247 vs. $268)
  • More CUW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 46%)

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