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Roosevelt University Kentucky DePaul University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU| Columbia College Chicago | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia College | NKU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,529 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,734 | $10,512 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,734 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,838 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,790 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,851 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
Columbia College | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,873 | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | 7,178 | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.2%Open | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.4%Open | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | |||
| 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 | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $257 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Columbia College | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 28% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | NKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 6,529 students)
Columbia College vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or NKU?
- Columbia College Chicago is 192.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($30,734.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 45.7% higher at Columbia College than Northern Kentucky University ($30,734.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Columbia College ($8,151 vs. $29,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 44.4% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($11,660 vs. $16,838)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Northern Kentucky University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 81.4% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($20,851 vs. $11,492)
Columbia College vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Columbia College (91.2%)
Columbia College vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or NKU? 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 NKU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (41% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $2,400 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $37,300)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $26,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($257 vs. $268)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/