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Roosevelt University DePaul Huntington University ISU OU Wartburg College Northern Illinois Emerson St. Ambrose University MIAD WPI Ithaca College| Columbia College Chicago | Upper Iowa University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | UIU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Fayette, IA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 3,072 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #737 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | uiu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | UIU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $32,589 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $32,589 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $9,644 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $24,563 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $25,788 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Columbia College | UIU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 1,405 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 762 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 54.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 28.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.34 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 890/1050 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | UIU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | UIU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $42,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $248 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | UIU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 66% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 3% |
Students |
Columbia College | UIU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 49% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 48% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | UIU | ||
| 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 UIU based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 3,072 students)
Columbia College vs. UIU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or UIU?
- Upper Iowa University is 11.3% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($32,589.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- Out of state tuition is 11.3% higher at UIU than Columbia College Chicago ($32,589.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Upper Iowa University than Columbia College ($24,563 vs. $28,387)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 86.6% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($9,644 vs. $18,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Upper Iowa University than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Upper Iowa University students is 43.1% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($25,788 vs. $18,020)
Columbia College vs. UIU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or UIU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UIU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at UIU (3.34)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than UIU (54.2%)
Columbia College vs. UIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or UIU? 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 UIU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at UIU is higher than Columbia College Chicago (45% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Upper Iowa University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,100 vs. $37,300)
- Upper Iowa University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,000)
- UIU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
- More UIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/