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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville Roosevelt University DePaul UTC NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU| Columbia College Chicago | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | WKU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,529 | 16,759 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,734 | $11,436 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,734 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,838 | $12,043 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,790 | $12,054 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,851 | $10,906 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
Columbia College | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,873 | 7,720 | ||
| Admitted | 7,178 | 7,492 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.2%Open | 97% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.4%Open | 37.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | |||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | |||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $250 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Columbia College | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | WKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 6,529 students)
Columbia College vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or WKU?
- Columbia College Chicago is 168.7% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($30,734.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.8% higher at Columbia College than Western Kentucky University ($30,734.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Columbia College ($12,054 vs. $29,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 39.8% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($12,043 vs. $16,838)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as Western Kentucky University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 91.2% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($20,851 vs. $10,906)
Columbia College vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Columbia College (91.2%)
Columbia College vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or WKU? 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 WKU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Columbia College Chicago (50% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Columbia College Chicago earn on average $200 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($37,300 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($250 vs. $268)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/