Columbia College vs. Wartburg College

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

 Columbia College Wartburg College
Location Chicago, IL Waverly, IA
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 6,646 1,444
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #654
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu wartburg.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College Wartburg College
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $46,740
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $46,740
Room & Board $18,000 $10,280
Avg Net Price $28,387 $23,683
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $36,157
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

 Columbia College Wartburg College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 2,779
Admitted 7,298 2,708
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 97.4%
Enrolled % 22%Open 13%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 970/1120
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 Wartburg College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College Wartburg College
Graduation Rate 41% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $48,100
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

 Columbia College Wartburg College
% Men 40% 49%
% Women 60% 51%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 77%
% Black 15% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 8%
% Unknown Race 7% 4%

Students

 Columbia College Wartburg College
% In-State 57% 70%
% Out-of-State 40% 27%

Campus

 Columbia College Wartburg College
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 Wartburg College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 1,444 students)

Columbia College vs. Wartburg College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Wartburg College?

  • Wartburg College is 59.7% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($46,740.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59.7% higher at Wartburg College than Columbia College Chicago ($46,740.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wartburg College than Columbia College ($23,683 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wartburg College are 75.1% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,280 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Wartburg College (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wartburg College students is 100.6% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($36,157 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. Wartburg College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Wartburg College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
  • Wartburg College has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Columbia College (94.8%)

Columbia College vs. Wartburg College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Wartburg College? 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 Wartburg College and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Wartburg College is higher than Columbia College Chicago (63% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Wartburg College earn on average $10,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($48,100 vs. $37,300)
  • Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Wartburg College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Wartburg College graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Wartburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 46%)

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