Columbia College vs. MACU

Deciding between Columbia College and Mid America Christian 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.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Columbia, SC
  • MACU Oklahoma City, OK
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • MACU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 1,725
  • MACU 2,397
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • MACU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College #937
  • MACU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College United Methodist
  • MACU Church of God
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • MACU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • MACU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $22,214
  • MACU $21,294
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $22,214
  • MACU $21,294
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $9,390
  • MACU $9,336
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $18,790
  • MACU $17,585
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $16,451
  • MACU $13,695
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 97%
  • MACU 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 2,634
  • MACU 376
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 2,474
  • MACU 345
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 93.9%
  • MACU 91.8% Open
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 8.5%
  • MACU 69% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College 1000
  • MACU
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College 16
  • MACU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.56
  • MACU -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College A-
  • MACU -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Extremely Easy
  • MACU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • MACU
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College 14/18
  • MACU
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College 850/1140
  • MACU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Test-free
  • MACU Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College
  • MACU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 12:1
  • MACU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Education (20%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Human Services (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • MACU
    • Business (36%)
    • General Studies (31%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 50%
  • MACU 23%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $34,700
  • MACU $45,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 43%
  • MACU 37%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $25,264
  • MACU $27,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $261
  • MACU $283

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 19%
  • MACU 32%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 81%
  • MACU 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • MACU High
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • MACU No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • MACU 54%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 1%
  • MACU 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 34%
  • MACU 26%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 4%
  • MACU 8%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 1%
  • MACU 3%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • MACU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 3%
  • MACU 4%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 2%
  • MACU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 1%
  • MACU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 83%
  • MACU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 14%
  • MACU 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Columbia, SC with Mid America Christian University in Oklahoma City, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mid America Christian University is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (2,397 students vs. 1,725 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College is located in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting); Mid America Christian University is in Oklahoma City, OK (Large City setting).
  • Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mid America Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 12:1; Mid America Christian University 14:1.

Columbia College vs. MACU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or MACU? 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 Mid America Christian University than Columbia College ($17,585 vs. $18,790).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mid America Christian University are 0.6% lower than at Columbia College ($9,336 vs. $9,390).
  • Columbia College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MACU (about $920 more per year; $22,214.00 vs. $21,294.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Columbia College than at Mid America Christian University (about $920 more per year; $22,214.00 vs. $21,294.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Mid America Christian University (97% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 20.1% larger than aid received by Mid America Christian University students ($16,451 vs. $13,695).

Columbia College vs. MACU Admissions comparison

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

  • Mid America Christian University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia College 850/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia College 14/18.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Test-free; MACU - Open admission.
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than MACU (91.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.5% at Columbia College vs. 69% at MACU.

Columbia College vs. MACU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Columbia College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Mid America Christian University's (23%).
  • Graduates from Mid America Christian University earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,000 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $2,174 lower median loan debt than MACU graduates ($25,264 vs. $27,438).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MACU graduates ($261 vs. $283).
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MACU students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 37%)

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.