Columbia College vs. Rochester College

Should I go to Columbia College Chicago or Rochester College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or Rochester College 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.

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Columbia College Chicago vs. Rochester College comparison
Columbia College Chicago Rochester College College 3 College 4
Columbia College Chicago
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Overview

Columbia College Rochester College
Location Chicago, IL Rochester Hills, MI
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,646 1,167
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #880
Religious Affiliation - Churches of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu rc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Rochester College
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $26,736
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $26,736
Room & Board $18,000 $9,440
Avg Net Price $28,387 $18,665
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $15,899
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College Rochester College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 929
Admitted 7,298 663
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 71.4%
Enrolled % 22%Open 35.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.13
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 840/1060
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

Academics

Columbia College Rochester College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Psychology (25%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Rochester College
Graduation Rate 41% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $24,403
Median Loan Payment $268 $252

Diversity

Columbia College Rochester College
% Men 40% 40%
% Women 60% 60%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 60%
% Black 15% 16%
% Hispanic 11% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 14%

Students

Columbia College Rochester College
% In-State 57% 86%
% Out-of-State 40% 10%

Campus

Columbia College Rochester 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 Rochester College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 1,167 students)

Columbia College vs. Rochester College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Rochester College?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 9.5% more expensive to attend than Rochester College for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $26,736.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.5% higher at Columbia College than Rochester College ($29,270.00 vs. $26,736.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rochester College than Columbia College ($18,665 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester College are 90.7% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($9,440 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rochester College than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 13.3% larger than aid received Rochester College ($18,020 vs. $15,899)

Columbia College vs. Rochester College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Rochester College (3.13)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Rochester College (71.4%)

Columbia College vs. Rochester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Rochester 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 Rochester College and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Rochester College is higher than Columbia College Chicago (42% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Rochester College earn on average $800 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $37,300)
  • Rochester College students graduate with a $1,597 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($24,403 vs. $26,000)
  • Rochester College graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($252 vs. $268)
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rochester College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 45%)

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