Columbia College vs. Messenger College

Should I go to Columbia College or Messenger College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or Messenger College 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. Messenger College comparison
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Overview

 Columbia College Messenger College
Location Columbia, MO Joplin, TX
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 6,046 19
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ccis.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $24,326 $9,480
Tuition (Out of State) $24,326 $9,480
Room & Board $8,670 $7,832
Avg Net Price $22,824 $17,197
Avg Grant Aid $13,725 $7,812
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

 Columbia College Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 8
Admitted - 4
Acceptance Rate Open 50%
Enrolled % Open 100%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2025

Academics

 Columbia College Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (42%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College Messenger College
Graduation Rate 39% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 40% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,034 N/A
Median Loan Payment $227 N/A

Diversity

 Columbia College Messenger College
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 54%
% Black 25% 18%
% Hispanic 8% 13%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 8%

Students

 Columbia College Messenger College
% In-State 56% 50%
% Out-of-State 42% 50%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (6,046 students vs. 19 students)

Columbia College vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Messenger College?

  • Columbia College is 156.6% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($24,326.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 156.6% higher at Columbia College than Messenger College ($24,326.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messenger College than Columbia College ($17,197 vs. $22,824)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 10.7% lower than costs at Columbia College ($7,832 vs. $8,670)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Messenger College than Columbia College (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 75.7% larger than aid received Messenger College ($13,725 vs. $7,812)

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.69 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Messenger College (2.9)

Columbia College vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Messenger College (39% vs. 10%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn on average $17,800 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $24,000)
  • More Messenger College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 40%)

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