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Old Dominion Longwood University JMU VSU Virginia Tech VCU Mason University of Lynchburg UVa-Wise Liberty University CNU Mary Washington College| Columbia College | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | RU | ||
| Location | Columbia, SC | Radford, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,514 | 7,718 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #913 | #566 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbiasc.edu | radford.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | RU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $21,250 | $8,156 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,250 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,400 | $10,567 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,779 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,089 | $9,733 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 96% |
Admission |
Columbia College | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,176 | 11,442 | ||
| Admitted | 2,135 | 10,680 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 98.1% | 93.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 8.9% | 11.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 14/18 | 19/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 850/1140 | 960/1160 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
Columbia College | RU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia College | RU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $34,700 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 43% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,264 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $261 | $237 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 85% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 34% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Columbia College | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 76% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 11% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | RU | ||
| 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
- Radford University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 1,514 students)
Columbia College vs. RU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or RU?
- Columbia College is 160.5% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($21,250.00 vs. $8,156.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5% higher at Columbia College than Radford University ($21,250.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than Columbia College ($17,105 vs. $18,779)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 25.8% lower than costs at Radford University ($8,400 vs. $10,567)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College than Radford University (97% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 65.3% larger than aid received Radford University ($16,089 vs. $9,733)
Columbia College vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or RU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RU or Columbia College .
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at RU (3.31)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than RU (93.3%)
Columbia College vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or RU? 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 RU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at RU is higher than Columbia College (56% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Radford University earn on average $12,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $34,700)
- Radford University students graduate with a $2,264 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,264)
- RU graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($237 vs. $261)
- More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 43%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/