Columbia College vs. Northwest

Deciding between Columbia College and Northwest Missouri State University? 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.

Northwest Missouri State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • Northwest Maryville, MO
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Northwest Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • Northwest 9,152
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • Northwest #896
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Northwest -
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • Northwest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Northwest $10,611
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Northwest $17,324
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • Northwest $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • Northwest $16,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • Northwest $9,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 91%
  • Northwest 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College -
  • Northwest 5,185
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College -
  • Northwest 4,464
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College Open
  • Northwest 86.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College Open
  • Northwest 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • Northwest 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • Northwest 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • Northwest 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College A-
  • Northwest B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • Northwest
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Northwest 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • Northwest 976/1193
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College
  • Northwest

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • Northwest 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)
  • Northwest
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 39%
  • Northwest 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • Northwest $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Northwest 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • Northwest $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $227
  • Northwest $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 41%
  • Northwest 35%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 59%
  • Northwest 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • Northwest Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • Northwest No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • Northwest 79%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 1%
  • Northwest 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 25%
  • Northwest 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 8%
  • Northwest 4%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 1%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 2%
  • Northwest 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 5%
  • Northwest 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 63%
  • Northwest 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 37%
  • Northwest 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Columbia, MO with Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest Missouri State University is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (9,152 students vs. 5,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College is located in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting); Northwest Missouri State University is in Maryville, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 20:1; Northwest Missouri State University 16:1.

Columbia College vs. Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Northwest? 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 Northwest Missouri State University than Columbia College ($16,790 vs. $21,530).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 22.2% lower than at Northwest Missouri State University ($9,552 vs. $12,282).
  • Columbia College is 143.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwest (about $15,215 more per year; $25,826.00 vs. $10,611.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.1% higher at Columbia College than at Northwest Missouri State University (about $8,502 more per year; $25,826.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Missouri State University than at Columbia College (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 74.5% larger than aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students ($15,882 vs. $9,101).

Columbia College vs. Northwest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Northwest? 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 Northwest and Columbia College.

  • Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthwest Missouri State University 976/1193.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthwest Missouri State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; Northwest - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Northwest (3.45).

Columbia College vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and Northwest? 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).

  • Northwest Missouri State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Columbia College's (39%).
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,800 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $2,966 lower median loan debt than Northwest graduates ($22,034 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest graduates ($227 vs. $258).
  • More Northwest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.