Columbia College vs. University of Dubuque

Should I go to Columbia College Chicago or University of Dubuque? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or University of Dubuque 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. University of Dubuque comparison
Columbia College Chicago University of Dubuque College 3 College 4
Columbia College Chicago University of Dubuque
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Overview

Columbia College University of Dubuque
Location Chicago, IL Dubuque, IA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 6,646 1,776
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #756
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu dbq.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College University of Dubuque
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $36,800
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $36,800
Room & Board $18,000 $11,024
Avg Net Price $28,387 $22,879
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $25,005
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College University of Dubuque
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 1,579
Admitted 7,298 1,343
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 85.1%
Enrolled % 22%Open 23.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.24
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 828/1070
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 University of Dubuque
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (15%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

Columbia College University of Dubuque
Graduation Rate 41% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $41,800
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,674
Median Loan Payment $268 $265

Diversity

Columbia College University of Dubuque
% Men 40% 56%
% Women 60% 44%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 63%
% Black 15% 14%
% Hispanic 11% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 6%

Students

Columbia College University of Dubuque
% In-State 57% 25%
% Out-of-State 40% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than University of Dubuque based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 1,776 students)

Columbia College vs. University of Dubuque Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or University of Dubuque?

  • University of Dubuque is 25.7% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($36,800.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.7% higher at University of Dubuque than Columbia College Chicago ($36,800.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Dubuque than Columbia College ($22,879 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Dubuque are 63.3% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($11,024 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Dubuque than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dubuque students is 38.8% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($25,005 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. University of Dubuque Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at University of Dubuque (3.24)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than University of Dubuque (85.1%)

Columbia College vs. University of Dubuque Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or University of Dubuque? 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 University of Dubuque and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is the same as at University of Dubuque (41% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from University of Dubuque earn on average $4,500 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $37,300)
  • University of Dubuque students graduate with a $326 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($25,674 vs. $26,000)
  • University of Dubuque graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($265 vs. $268)
  • More University of Dubuque graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 46%)

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