Columbia College vs. DePaul

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

Columbia College DePaul
Location Chicago, IL Chicago, IL
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 6,646 20,917
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #251
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu depaul.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College DePaul
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $42,189
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $42,189
Room & Board $18,000 $16,068
Avg Net Price $28,387 $32,151
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $26,004
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

Columbia College DePaul
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 31,785
Admitted 7,298 22,302
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 70.2%
Enrolled % 22%Open 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.8
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/30
SAT Range 1070/1300
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia College DePaul
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia College DePaul
Graduation Rate 41% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,332
Median Loan Payment $268 $241

Diversity

Columbia College DePaul
% Men 40% 44%
% Women 60% 56%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 55%
% Black 15% 8%
% Hispanic 11% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 4%

Students

Columbia College DePaul
% In-State 57% 63%
% Out-of-State 40% 36%

Campus

Columbia College DePaul
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

  • DePaul University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (20,917 students vs. 6,646 students)

Columbia College vs. DePaul Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or DePaul?

  • DePaul University is 44.1% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($42,189.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.1% higher at DePaul than Columbia College Chicago ($42,189.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College Chicago than DePaul ($28,387 vs. $32,151)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at DePaul University are 12% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($16,068 vs. $18,000)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as DePaul University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePaul University students is 44.3% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($26,004 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. DePaul Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman DePaul students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than DePaul (70.2%)

Columbia College vs. DePaul Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at DePaul is higher than Columbia College Chicago (66% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from DePaul University earn on average $19,600 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $37,300)
  • DePaul University students graduate with a $2,668 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($23,332 vs. $26,000)
  • DePaul graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($241 vs. $268)
  • More DePaul graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 46%)

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