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EIU Northern Illinois ISU Roosevelt University DePaul Southern Illinois University Indiana State SIUE University of Illinois at Springfield Central UIC Cleveland State| Columbia College Chicago | Western Illinois University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | Western Illinois University | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Macomb, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 7,643 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #579 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | wiu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | Western Illinois University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $9,515 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $9,515 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $10,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $11,213 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $15,632 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 94% |
Admission |
Columbia College | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 9,219 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 6,914 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 75% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 15.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 880/1090 | |||
| 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 |
Academics |
Columbia College | Western Illinois University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | Western Illinois University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $46,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,704 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $255 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 2% |
Students |
Columbia College | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 10% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | Western Illinois University | ||
| 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
- Western Illinois University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 6,646 students)
Columbia College vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Western Illinois University?
- Columbia College Chicago is 207.6% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $9,515.00)
- Out of state tuition is 207.6% higher at Columbia College than Western Illinois University ($29,270.00 vs. $9,515.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Columbia College ($11,213 vs. $28,387)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 71.4% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,500 vs. $18,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Western Illinois University (99% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 15.3% larger than aid received Western Illinois University ($18,020 vs. $15,632)
Columbia College vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Western Illinois University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Western Illinois University or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Western Illinois University (75%)
Columbia College vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or Western Illinois University? 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 Western Illinois University and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Columbia College Chicago (53% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $8,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $37,300)
- Western Illinois University students graduate with a $1,296 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($24,704 vs. $26,000)
- Western Illinois University graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($255 vs. $268)
- More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/