Columbia College vs. CU

Deciding between Columbia College Chicago and Cumberland University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Columbia College Chicago
Cumberland University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Large City
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College -
  • CU -
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 100%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College B+
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 41%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 46%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $268
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 40%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 60%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • CU No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 3%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 15%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 11%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 5%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 3%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 7%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 54%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 44%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbia College Yes
  • CU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbia College No
  • CU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbia College Yes
  • CU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbia College No
  • CU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbia College No
  • CU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Columbia College vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or CU? 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 Cumberland University than Columbia College ($18,499 vs. $29,473).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 38% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($12,800 vs. $20,629).
  • Columbia College Chicago is 22.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $6,248 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.4% higher at Columbia College than at Cumberland University (about $6,248 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 8.4% larger than aid received by Columbia College Chicago students ($24,703 vs. $22,780).

Columbia College vs. CU Admissions comparison

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

  • Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; CU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.
  • 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 (89.5%) than CU (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at Columbia College vs. 40.5% at CU.

Columbia College vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Columbia College Chicago's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $4,271 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($21,729 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.