Columbia College vs. University of New England

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

Columbia College University of New England
Location Chicago, IL Biddeford, ME
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 6,646 6,434
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu une.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College University of New England
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $39,510
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $39,510
Room & Board $18,000 $16,100
Avg Net Price $28,387 $38,809
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $20,555
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College University of New England
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 4,941
Admitted 7,298 4,757
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 96.3%
Enrolled % 22%Open 15.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.41
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Columbia College University of New England
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Health Professions (41%)
  • Biology (19%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (4%)

Outcomes

Columbia College University of New England
Graduation Rate 41% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $53,800
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

Columbia College University of New England
% Men 40% 30%
% Women 60% 70%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 80%
% Black 15% 1%
% Hispanic 11% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 14%

Students

Columbia College University of New England
% In-State 57% 21%
% Out-of-State 40% 79%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than University of New England based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 6,434 students)

Columbia College vs. University of New England Cost Comparison

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

  • University of New England is 35% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($39,510.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35% higher at University of New England than Columbia College Chicago ($39,510.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College Chicago than University of New England ($28,387 vs. $38,809)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of New England are 11.8% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($16,100 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of New England than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of New England students is 14.1% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($20,555 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. University of New England Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have at the same average high school GPA (3.41) as students at University of New England (3.41)
  • University of New England has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Columbia College (94.8%)

Columbia College vs. University of New England Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at University of New England is higher than Columbia College Chicago (57% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from University of New England earn on average $16,500 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $37,300)
  • Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than University of New England graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than University of New England graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More University of New England graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 46%)

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