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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Roosevelt University Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT| Columbia College Chicago | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | ISU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $11,840 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 97% |
Admission |
Columbia College | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | |||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $227 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 0% |
Students |
Columbia College | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 3% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 6,646 students)
Columbia College vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or ISU?
- Columbia College Chicago is 147.2% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $11,840.00)
- Out of state tuition is 23.6% higher at Columbia College than Illinois State University ($29,270.00 vs. $23,681.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than Columbia College ($20,551 vs. $28,387)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 69.8% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,602 vs. $18,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Illinois State University (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 55.1% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($18,020 vs. $11,619)
Columbia College vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have at the same average high school GPA (3.41) as students at ISU (3.41)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than ISU (86.2%)
Columbia College vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or ISU? 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 ISU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Columbia College Chicago (71% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $11,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $37,300)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($22,000 vs. $26,000)
- ISU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($227 vs. $268)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/