Columbia College vs. Wake Forest

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

 Columbia College Wake Forest
Location Columbia, MO Winston Salem, NC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,046 8,963
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ccis.edu wfu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College Wake Forest
Tuition (In State) $24,326 $61,012
Tuition (Out of State) $24,326 $61,012
Room & Board $8,670 $16,652
Avg Net Price $22,824 $26,197
Avg Grant Aid $13,725 $54,233
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 29%

Admission

 Columbia College Wake Forest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 16,857
Admitted - 3,602
Acceptance Rate Open 21.4%
Enrolled % Open 38%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025

Academics

 Columbia College Wake Forest
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (42%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College Wake Forest
Graduation Rate 39% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $77,200
Making Student Loan Payments 40% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,034 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $237

Diversity

 Columbia College Wake Forest
% Men 40% 43%
% Women 60% 57%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 72%
% Black 25% 6%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

 Columbia College Wake Forest
% In-State 56% 14%
% Out-of-State 42% 77%

Campus

 Columbia College Wake Forest
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

  • Wake Forest University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (8,963 students vs. 6,046 students)

Columbia College vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Wake Forest?

  • Wake Forest University is 150.8% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($61,012.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 150.8% higher at Wake Forest than Columbia College ($61,012.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College than Wake Forest ($22,824 vs. $26,197)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 92.1% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($8,670 vs. $16,652)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College than Wake Forest University (90% vs. 29%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 295.1% larger than aid received Columbia College ($54,233 vs. $13,725)

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

Columbia College vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Columbia College (88% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $35,400 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $41,800)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $966 lower median federal student loan debt than Wake Forest graduates. ($22,034 vs. $23,000)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Wake Forest graduates. ($227 vs. $237)
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 40%)

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