Columbia College vs. Lincoln College

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

Columbia College Lincoln College
Location Chicago, IL Lincoln, IL
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 6,646 888
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu lincolncollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Lincoln College
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $18,700
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $18,700
Room & Board $18,000 $8,400
Avg Net Price $28,387 -
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 0%

Admission

Columbia College Lincoln College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 -
Admitted 7,298 -
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open
Enrolled % 22%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.41 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/18
SAT Range 710/800
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia College Lincoln College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (57%)
  • Personal and Culinary Services (18%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (2%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Lincoln College
Graduation Rate 41% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $33,800
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $12,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $124

Diversity

Columbia College Lincoln College
% Men 40% 49%
% Women 60% 51%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 45%
% Black 15% 42%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

Columbia College Lincoln College
% In-State 57% 77%
% Out-of-State 40% 14%

Campus

Columbia College Lincoln College
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

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than Lincoln College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 888 students)

Columbia College vs. Lincoln College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Lincoln College?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 56.5% more expensive to attend than Lincoln College for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $18,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.5% higher at Columbia College than Lincoln College ($29,270.00 vs. $18,700.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lincoln College are 114.3% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($8,400 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Lincoln College (99% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is ?% larger than aid received Lincoln College ($18,020 vs. $0)

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

Columbia College vs. Lincoln College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Lincoln 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 Lincoln College and Columbia College.

  • Graduates from Columbia College Chicago earn on average $3,500 more per year than Lincoln College graduates after ten years. ($37,300 vs. $33,800)
  • Lincoln College students graduate with a $14,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($12,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Lincoln College graduates are paying $144 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($124 vs. $268)
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lincoln 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/