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UNC Chapel Hill University of Richmond Roosevelt University BC Duke DePaul Villanova UVA Davidson Holy Cross William & Mary Elon| Columbia College Chicago | Wake Forest University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia College | Wake Forest | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Winston Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 8,963 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | wfu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | Wake Forest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $61,012 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $61,012 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $16,652 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $26,197 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $54,233 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 29% |
Admission |
Columbia College | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 16,857 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 3,602 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 21.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 38% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| 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 | Jan 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | Wake Forest | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | Wake Forest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 88% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $77,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $237 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 0% |
Students |
Columbia College | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 14% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 77% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | Wake Forest | ||
| 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
- Wake Forest University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (8,963 students vs. 6,646 students)
Columbia College vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Wake Forest?
- Wake Forest University is 108.4% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($61,012.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- Out of state tuition is 108.4% higher at Wake Forest than Columbia College Chicago ($61,012.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wake Forest University than Columbia College ($26,197 vs. $28,387)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wake Forest University are 8.1% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($16,652 vs. $18,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Wake Forest University (99% vs. 29%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 201% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($54,233 vs. $18,020)
Columbia College vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Wake Forest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wake Forest or Columbia College .
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Wake Forest (21.4%)
Columbia College vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Columbia College Chicago (88% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $39,900 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $37,300)
- Wake Forest University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($23,000 vs. $26,000)
- Wake Forest graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($237 vs. $268)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/