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Endicott College Roosevelt University Stonehill College DePaul Bryant University Assumption College Roger Williams University Quinnipiac SHU Saint Anselm College UMass Dartmouth Curry College| Columbia College Chicago | Merrimack College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia College | Merrimack | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | North Andover, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 5,505 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | merrimack.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | Merrimack | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $45,815 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $45,815 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $18,295 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $37,296 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $27,729 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 97% |
Admission |
Columbia College | Merrimack | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 13,175 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 9,833 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 74.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 12% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 | Sep 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Columbia College | Merrimack | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | Merrimack | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $58,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $279 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | Merrimack | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 1% | ||
| % International | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 11% |
Students |
Columbia College | Merrimack | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 31% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | Merrimack | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Columbia College Chicago is larger than than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 5,505 students)
Columbia College vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Merrimack?
- Merrimack College is 56.5% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($45,815.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- Out of state tuition is 56.5% higher at Merrimack than Columbia College Chicago ($45,815.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College Chicago than Merrimack ($28,387 vs. $37,296)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College Chicago are 1.6% lower than costs at Merrimack College ($18,000 vs. $18,295)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Merrimack College (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 53.9% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($27,729 vs. $18,020)
Columbia College vs. Merrimack Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Merrimack? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Merrimack or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Merrimack (3.3)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Merrimack (74.6%)
Columbia College vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or Merrimack? 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 Merrimack and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at Merrimack is higher than Columbia College Chicago (70% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Merrimack College earn on average $20,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $37,300)
- Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Merrimack graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- Columbia College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Merrimack graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/