Columbia College vs. CU

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

 Columbia College CU
Location Columbia, MO Lebanon, TN
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 6,046 3,072
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ccis.edu cumberland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College CU
Tuition (In State) $24,326 $26,640
Tuition (Out of State) $24,326 $26,640
Room & Board $8,874 $10,360
Avg Net Price $22,655 $17,669
Avg Grant Aid $14,569 $23,749
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

 Columbia College CU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,788
Admitted - 1,868
Acceptance Rate Open 67%
Enrolled % Open 36%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Columbia College CU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (42%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College CU
Graduation Rate 39% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $39,900
Making Student Loan Payments 40% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,034 $21,729
Median Loan Payment $227 $224

Diversity

 Columbia College CU
% Men 3% 8%
% Women 4% 6%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 63%
% Black 25% 12%
% Hispanic 8% 3%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 16%

Students

 Columbia College CU
% In-State 56% 88%
% Out-of-State 42% 8%

Campus

 Columbia College CU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than CU based on total student enrollment (6,046 students vs. 3,072 students)

Columbia College vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or CU?

  • Cumberland University is 9.5% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($26,640.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.5% higher at CU than Columbia College ($26,640.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cumberland University than Columbia College ($17,669 vs. $22,655)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 16.7% lower than costs at Cumberland University ($8,874 vs. $10,360)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cumberland University than Columbia College (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 63% larger than aid received Columbia College ($23,749 vs. $14,569)

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at CU (3.3)

Columbia College vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Cumberland University (39% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn on average $1,900 more per year than CU graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $39,900)
  • Cumberland University students graduate with a $305 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($21,729 vs. $22,034)
  • CU graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($224 vs. $227)
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 40%)

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