Columbia College vs. EIU

Deciding between Columbia College Chicago and Eastern Illinois 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
Eastern Illinois University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Large City
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • EIU 8,505
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • EIU #688
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College -
  • EIU -
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • EIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • EIU $13,679
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • EIU $16,217
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • EIU $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • EIU $13,787
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • EIU $12,960
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 100%
  • EIU 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • EIU 12,539
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • EIU 8,194
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • EIU 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • EIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • EIU 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College B+
  • EIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • EIU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • EIU
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • EIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027
  • EIU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • EIU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 41%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • EIU $43,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 46%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • EIU $23,650
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $268
  • EIU $244

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 40%
  • EIU 43%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 60%
  • EIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • EIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • EIU No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • EIU 68%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 3%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 15%
  • EIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 11%
  • EIU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 5%
  • EIU 2%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 3%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 7%
  • EIU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 54%
  • EIU 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 44%
  • EIU 7%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL with Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 5,570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Eastern Illinois University is in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting).
  • Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Eastern Illinois University 14:1.

Columbia College vs. EIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or EIU? 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 Eastern Illinois University than Columbia College ($13,787 vs. $29,473).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 40.5% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($12,282 vs. $20,629).
  • Columbia College Chicago is 149.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $20,409 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 110.2% higher at Columbia College than at Eastern Illinois University (about $17,871 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than at Eastern Illinois University (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 75.8% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($22,780 vs. $12,960).

Columbia College vs. EIU Admissions comparison

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

  • Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsEastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; EIU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at EIU (3.39).
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at Columbia College vs. 9.8% at EIU.

Columbia College vs. EIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Eastern Illinois University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $2,350 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($23,650 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($244 vs. $268).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.