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Roosevelt University DePaul Albion College Huntington University Northern Illinois Emerson MIAD WPI Ithaca College Cornerstone University GVSU Olivet Nazarene University| Columbia College Chicago | Spring Arbor University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | SAU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Spring Arbor, MI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 2,396 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | arbor.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | SAU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $31,020 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $31,020 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $10,652 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $22,375 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $20,677 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
Columbia College | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 2,312 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 1,094 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 47.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 20.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | |||
| SAT Range | 970/1135 | |||
| 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 | SAU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | SAU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $42,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,043 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $248 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 23% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 77% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 5% |
Students |
Columbia College | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | SAU | ||
| 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 SAU based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 2,396 students)
Columbia College vs. SAU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or SAU?
- Spring Arbor University is 6% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($31,020.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6% higher at SAU than Columbia College Chicago ($31,020.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Spring Arbor University than Columbia College ($22,375 vs. $28,387)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 69% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,652 vs. $18,000)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as Spring Arbor University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Spring Arbor University students is 14.7% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($20,677 vs. $18,020)
Columbia College vs. SAU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or SAU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SAU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than SAU (47.3%)
Columbia College vs. SAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or SAU? 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 SAU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at SAU is higher than Columbia College Chicago (56% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Spring Arbor University earn on average $5,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $37,300)
- Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $1,957 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($24,043 vs. $26,000)
- SAU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
- More SAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/