Columbia College vs. Purdue Calumet

Should I go to Columbia College Chicago or Purdue University Calumet Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or Purdue Calumet 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

IPFW Roosevelt University DePaul IU Northwest Purdue North Central Purdue BSU Huntington University Northern Illinois Emerson Benedictine University MIAD
Columbia College Chicago vs. Purdue University Calumet Campus comparison
Columbia College Chicago Purdue University Calumet Campus College 3 College 4
Columbia College Chicago
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Columbia College Purdue Calumet
Location Chicago, IL Hammond, IN
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,646 9,194
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu purduecal.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College Purdue Calumet
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $6,746
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $16,164
Room & Board $18,000 $7,560
Avg Net Price $28,387 $10,908
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $5,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 58%

Admission

 Columbia College Purdue Calumet
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 2,810
Admitted 7,298 1,649
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 58.7%
Enrolled % 22%Open 54%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 940/1140
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Required
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Columbia College Purdue Calumet
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College Purdue Calumet
Graduation Rate 41% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,908
Median Loan Payment $268 $216

Diversity

 Columbia College Purdue Calumet
% Men 40% 0%
% Women 60% 0%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 55%
% Black 15% 13%
% Hispanic 11% 19%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 6%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

 Columbia College Purdue Calumet
% In-State 57% -
% Out-of-State 40% -

Campus

 Columbia College Purdue Calumet
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Calumet Campus is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (9,194 students vs. 6,646 students)

Columbia College vs. Purdue Calumet Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Purdue Calumet?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 333.9% more expensive to attend than Purdue Calumet for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $6,746.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 81.1% higher at Columbia College than Purdue University Calumet Campus ($29,270.00 vs. $16,164.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Calumet Campus than Columbia College ($10,908 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Calumet Campus are 138.1% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($7,560 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Purdue University Calumet Campus (99% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 216% larger than aid received Purdue University Calumet Campus ($18,020 vs. $5,703)

Columbia College vs. Purdue Calumet Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Purdue Calumet (3.19)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Purdue Calumet (58.7%)

Columbia College vs. Purdue Calumet Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Purdue Calumet? 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 Purdue Calumet and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Purdue University Calumet Campus (41% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Calumet Campus earn on average $5,200 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $37,300)
  • Purdue University Calumet Campus students graduate with a $5,092 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($20,908 vs. $26,000)
  • Purdue Calumet graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($216 vs. $268)
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue Calumet students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/