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Roosevelt University DePaul Coe College Huntington University Northern Illinois Emerson MIAD WPI Ithaca College Berklee School of Music ISU University of Dubuque| Columbia College Chicago | Mount Mercy University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia College | Mount Mercy College | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Cedar Rapids, IA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 1,526 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | mtmercy.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | Mount Mercy College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $36,606 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $36,606 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $10,636 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $24,078 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $27,288 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Columbia College | Mount Mercy College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 1,569 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 1,181 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 75.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 19% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.5 | ||
| 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 required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | Mount Mercy College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | Mount Mercy College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $45,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $230 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | Mount Mercy College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 81% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 3% |
Students |
Columbia College | Mount Mercy College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 28% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | Mount Mercy 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 Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 1,526 students)
Columbia College vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Mount Mercy College?
- Mount Mercy University is 25.1% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- Out of state tuition is 25.1% higher at Mount Mercy College than Columbia College Chicago ($36,606.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Mercy University than Columbia College ($24,078 vs. $28,387)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 69.2% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,636 vs. $18,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 51.4% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($27,288 vs. $18,020)
Columbia College vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Mount Mercy College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mount Mercy College or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)
Columbia College vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or Mount Mercy 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 Mount Mercy College and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Columbia College Chicago (60% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $8,600 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $37,300)
- Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($22,250 vs. $26,000)
- Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($230 vs. $268)
- More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/