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Roosevelt University DePaul Huntington University Northern Illinois Emerson MIAD WPI Ithaca College Berklee School of Music ISU University of Missouri-Kansas City DeVry University-Cincinnati| Columbia College Chicago | Governors State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia College | GSU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | University Park, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 6,529 | 4,337 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | govst.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | GSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,734 | $7,872 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,734 | $7,872 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,838 | $11,360 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,790 | $10,833 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,851 | $11,315 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 90% |
Admission |
Columbia College | GSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,873 | - | ||
| Admitted | 7,178 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.2%Open | |||
| Enrolled % | 22.4%Open | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | 830/1060 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | GSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | GSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $42,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 48% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $17,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $178 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | GSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 27% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 36% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 38% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 9% |
Students |
Columbia College | GSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 3% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | GSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Columbia College Chicago is larger than than GSU based on total student enrollment (6,529 students vs. 4,337 students)
Columbia College vs. GSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or GSU?
- Columbia College Chicago is 290.4% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($30,734.00 vs. $7,872.00)
- Out of state tuition is 290.4% higher at Columbia College than Governors State University ($30,734.00 vs. $7,872.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than Columbia College ($10,833 vs. $29,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 48.2% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($11,360 vs. $16,838)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Governors State University (99% vs. 90%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 84.3% larger than aid received Governors State University ($20,851 vs. $11,315)
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or GSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GSU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
Columbia College vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or GSU? 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 GSU and Columbia College.
- Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $5,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $37,300)
- Governors State University students graduate with a $8,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($17,250 vs. $26,000)
- GSU graduates are paying $90 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($178 vs. $268)
- More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/