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RPI Roosevelt University Clark University DePaul Holy Cross RIT Stevens Northeastern Worcester State University UMass Purdue BU| Columbia College Chicago | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia College | WPI | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Worcester, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,646 | 7,308 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colum.edu | wpi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | WPI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,270 | $56,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,270 | $56,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,000 | $16,544 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,387 | $46,876 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,020 | $27,059 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 96% |
Admission |
Columbia College | WPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,701 | 11,599 | ||
| Admitted | 7,298 | 6,667 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.8%Open | 57.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22%Open | 20.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| 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 | Feb 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbia College | WPI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | WPI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 76% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $82,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 92% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $279 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | WPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 64% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 36% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 12% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 6% |
Students |
Columbia College | WPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 45% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 47% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | WPI | ||
| 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
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (7,308 students vs. 6,646 students)
Columbia College vs. WPI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or WPI?
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 91.3% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($56,000.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- Out of state tuition is 91.3% higher at WPI than Columbia College Chicago ($56,000.00 vs. $29,270.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College Chicago than WPI ($28,387 vs. $46,876)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are 8.8% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($16,544 vs. $18,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Worcester Polytechnic Institute (99% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 50.2% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($27,059 vs. $18,020)
Columbia College vs. WPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or WPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WPI or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than WPI (57.5%)
Columbia College vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or WPI? 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 WPI and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at WPI is higher than Columbia College Chicago (76% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn on average $45,400 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($82,700 vs. $37,300)
- Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than WPI graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- Columbia College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than WPI graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/