Columbia College vs. CUW

Deciding between Columbia College and Concordia University Wisconsin? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Concordia University Wisconsin

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • CUW Mequon, WI
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • CUW Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • CUW 5,253
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • CUW Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • CUW #442
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • CUW Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • CUW Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • CUW

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • CUW $35,470
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • CUW $35,470
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • CUW $13,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • CUW $31,916
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • CUW $21,379
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 91%
  • CUW 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College -
  • CUW 3,945
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College -
  • CUW 3,085
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College Open
  • CUW 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College Open
  • CUW 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • CUW
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • CUW 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • CUW 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College A-
  • CUW A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • CUW Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • CUW
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • CUW 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • CUW
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • CUW Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College
  • CUW

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • CUW 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)
  • CUW
    • Business (40%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 39%
  • CUW 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • CUW $46,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 40%
  • CUW 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • CUW $23,925
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $227
  • CUW $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 41%
  • CUW 42%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 59%
  • CUW 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • CUW Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • CUW No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • CUW 72%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 1%
  • CUW 2%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 25%
  • CUW 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 8%
  • CUW 2%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 1%
  • CUW 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • CUW 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 3%
  • CUW 3%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 2%
  • CUW 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 5%
  • CUW 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 63%
  • CUW 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 37%
  • CUW 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbia College Yes
  • CUW Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbia College No
  • CUW No
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbia College Yes
  • CUW Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • CUW Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbia College No
  • CUW No

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Columbia, MO with Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College is larger than CUW based on total student enrollment (5,689 students vs. 5,253 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College is located in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting); Concordia University Wisconsin is in Mequon, WI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 20:1; Concordia University Wisconsin 11:1.

Columbia College vs. CUW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or CUW? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College than CUW ($21,530 vs. $31,916).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 27.6% lower than at Concordia University Wisconsin ($9,552 vs. $13,200).
  • Concordia University Wisconsin is 37.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $9,644 more per year; $35,470.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.3% higher at CUW than at Columbia College (about $9,644 more per year; $35,470.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Concordia University Wisconsin than at Columbia College (99% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Wisconsin students is 34.6% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($21,379 vs. $15,882).

Columbia College vs. CUW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or CUW? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CUW and Columbia College.

  • Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsConcordia University Wisconsin 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; CUW - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at CUW (3.52).

Columbia College vs. CUW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and CUW? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Concordia University Wisconsin's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Columbia College's (39%).
  • Graduates from Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $1,891 lower median loan debt than CUW graduates ($22,034 vs. $23,925).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CUW graduates ($227 vs. $247).
  • More CUW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.