Columbia College vs. Hamilton Technical College

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

Columbia College Hamilton Technical College
Location Chicago, IL Davenport, IA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 6,646 75
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website colum.edu hamiltontechcollege.com
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Hamilton Technical College
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $14,700
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $14,700
Room & Board $18,000 $8,890
Avg Net Price $28,387 $18,056
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $6,352
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 68%

Admission

Columbia College Hamilton Technical College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 -
Admitted 7,298 -
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open Open
Enrolled % 22%Open Open
Avg High School GPA 3.41 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia College Hamilton Technical College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Health Professions (60%)
  • Engineering Technology (40%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Hamilton Technical College
Graduation Rate 41% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $39,500
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $9,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $98

Diversity

Columbia College Hamilton Technical College
% Men 40% 43%
% Women 60% 57%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 73%
% Black 15% 11%
% Hispanic 11% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

Columbia College Hamilton Technical College
% In-State 57% 52%
% Out-of-State 40% 48%

Campus

Columbia College Hamilton Technical College
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than Hamilton Technical College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 75 students)

Columbia College vs. Hamilton Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Hamilton Technical College?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 99.1% more expensive to attend than Hamilton Technical College for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $14,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99.1% higher at Columbia College than Hamilton Technical College ($29,270.00 vs. $14,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hamilton Technical College than Columbia College ($18,056 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hamilton Technical College are 102.5% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($8,890 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Hamilton Technical College (99% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 183.7% larger than aid received Hamilton Technical College ($18,020 vs. $6,352)

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

Columbia College vs. Hamilton Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Hamilton Technical College? 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 Hamilton Technical College and Columbia College.

  • Graduates from Hamilton Technical College earn on average $2,200 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($39,500 vs. $37,300)
  • Hamilton Technical College students graduate with a $16,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($9,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Hamilton Technical College graduates are paying $170 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($98 vs. $268)
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hamilton Technical College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 33%)

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