Columbia College vs. Rush University Medical Center

Deciding between Columbia College Chicago and Rush University? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Large City
  • Rush University Medical Center Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • Rush University Medical Center 2,769
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • Rush University Medical Center Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College -
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Rush University Medical Center Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Rush University Medical Center $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Rush University Medical Center $0
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • Rush University Medical Center $0
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • Rush University Medical Center $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 100%
  • Rush University Medical Center 0%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College B+
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Rush University Medical Center Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Rush University Medical Center Not reported
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • Rush University Medical Center 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 41%
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • Rush University Medical Center $116,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 46%
  • Rush University Medical Center 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • Rush University Medical Center $21,772
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $268
  • Rush University Medical Center $225
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Rush University Medical Center 22%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 60%
  • Rush University Medical Center 78%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • Rush University Medical Center High
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • Rush University Medical Center No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • Rush University Medical Center 47%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Rush University Medical Center 10%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 15%
  • Rush University Medical Center 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 11%
  • Rush University Medical Center 25%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Rush University Medical Center 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Rush University Medical Center 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 5%
  • Rush University Medical Center 1%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Rush University Medical Center 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 7%
  • Rush University Medical Center 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 54%
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 44%
  • Rush University Medical Center -
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Rush University Medical Center No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbia College No
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Rush University Medical Center No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbia College No
  • Rush University Medical Center No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbia College No
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Learn More
  • Columbia College Details
  • Rush University Medical Center Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL with Rush University in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than Rush University Medical Center based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 2,769 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Rush University is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rush University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Rush University 10:1.

Columbia College vs. Rush University Medical Center Cost Comparison

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

  • In-state tuition differs between Columbia College Chicago and Rush University Medical Center ($34,088.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Columbia College and Rush University ($34,088.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than at Rush University (100% vs. 0%).

Columbia College vs. Rush University Medical Center Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Rush University Medical Center? 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 Rush University Medical Center and Columbia College.

  • Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; Rush University Medical Center - Not reported.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.

Columbia College vs. Rush University Medical Center Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and Rush University Medical Center? 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).

  • Graduates from Rush University earn a median of about $78,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($116,100 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rush University graduates have a $4,228 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($21,772 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rush University Medical Center graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($225 vs. $268).
  • More Rush University Medical Center graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.