Columbia College vs. Ranken Technical College

Deciding between Columbia College Chicago and Ranken Technical College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Columbia College Chicago

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Large City
  • Ranken Technical College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • Ranken Technical College 1,784
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • Ranken Technical College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • Ranken Technical College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College -
  • Ranken Technical College -
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Ranken Technical College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • Ranken Technical College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Ranken Technical College $18,008
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Ranken Technical College $18,008
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • Ranken Technical College $8,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • Ranken Technical College $18,286
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • Ranken Technical College $11,092
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 100%
  • Ranken Technical College 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • Ranken Technical College -
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • Ranken Technical College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • Ranken Technical College Open
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • Ranken Technical College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • Ranken Technical College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • Ranken Technical College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • Ranken Technical College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College B+
  • Ranken Technical College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Ranken Technical College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • Ranken Technical College
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Ranken Technical College
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Ranken Technical College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Ranken Technical College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027
  • Ranken Technical College Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • Ranken Technical College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Ranken Technical College
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (51%)
    • Engineering Technology (31%)
    • Construction Trades (9%)
    • Precision Production Trades (6%)
    • Business (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 41%
  • Ranken Technical College 100%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • Ranken Technical College $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 46%
  • Ranken Technical College 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • Ranken Technical College $13,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $268
  • Ranken Technical College $142

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Ranken Technical College 91%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 60%
  • Ranken Technical College 9%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • Ranken Technical College Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • Ranken Technical College No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • Ranken Technical College 72%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Ranken Technical College 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 15%
  • Ranken Technical College 22%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 11%
  • Ranken Technical College 2%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Ranken Technical College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Ranken Technical College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 5%
  • Ranken Technical College 1%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Ranken Technical College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 7%
  • Ranken Technical College 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 54%
  • Ranken Technical College 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 44%
  • Ranken Technical College 17%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL with Ranken Technical College in Saint Louis, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than Ranken Technical College based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 1,784 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Ranken Technical College is in Saint Louis, MO (Large City setting).
  • Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ranken Technical College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Ranken Technical College 11:1.

Columbia College vs. Ranken Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Ranken Technical College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ranken Technical College than Columbia College ($18,286 vs. $29,473).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ranken Technical College are 58.6% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($8,550 vs. $20,629).
  • Columbia College Chicago is 89.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ranken Technical College (about $16,080 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $18,008.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 89.3% higher at Columbia College than at Ranken Technical College (about $16,080 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $18,008.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than at Ranken Technical College (100% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 105.4% larger than aid received by Ranken Technical College students ($22,780 vs. $11,092).

Columbia College vs. Ranken Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Ranken Technical College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Ranken Technical College and Columbia College.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; Ranken Technical College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027; Ranken Technical College Jul 1, 2027.

Columbia College vs. Ranken Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and Ranken Technical College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Ranken Technical College's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
  • Graduates from Ranken Technical College earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ranken Technical College graduates have a $12,250 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($13,750 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ranken Technical College graduates have an estimated $126 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($142 vs. $268).
  • More Ranken Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.