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 Campbellsville University Middle Tennessee State University Huntington University Tennessee State University Northern Illinois Emerson Belmont MIAD WPI Ithaca College| Columbia College Chicago | Cumberland University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | CU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Lebanon, TN | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,529 | 3,072 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | cumberland.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | CU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,734 | $26,640 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,734 | $26,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,838 | $10,360 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,790 | $17,669 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,851 | $23,749 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Columbia College | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,873 | 2,788 | ||
| Admitted | 7,178 | 1,868 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.2%Open | 67% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.4%Open | 36% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Columbia College | CU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 34% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $39,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $21,729 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $224 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 0% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 16% |
Students |
Columbia College | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | CU | ||
| 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 CU based on total student enrollment (6,529 students vs. 3,072 students)
Columbia College vs. CU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or CU?
- Columbia College Chicago is 15.4% more expensive to attend than CU for in-state tuition ($30,734.00 vs. $26,640.00)
- Out of state tuition is 15.4% higher at Columbia College than Cumberland University ($30,734.00 vs. $26,640.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cumberland University than Columbia College ($17,669 vs. $29,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 62.5% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,360 vs. $16,838)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cumberland University than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 13.9% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($23,749 vs. $20,851)
Columbia College vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or CU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at CU (3.3)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (91.2%) than CU (67%)
Columbia College vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or CU? 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 CU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Cumberland University (41% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from Cumberland University earn on average $2,600 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($39,900 vs. $37,300)
- Cumberland University students graduate with a $4,271 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($21,729 vs. $26,000)
- CU graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($224 vs. $268)
- More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/